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I Location

II General Description

St James' is still a large fenland church even though only the western portion of the church remains standing. The looming, 15thc. W tower is followed by a lingering nine-bay nave with N and S aisles. Bays 1-6 are of the 12thc. and bays 7-9, the three western bays, were added in the 13thc. The clerestory dates to the 15thc. as does the brick N aisle. The N porch was added in the 16thc. The S aisle was rebuilt in stone by James Fowler during his 1871 restoration.

Of the 12thc. church there remains the exterior corbel table of the nave, the six bays of the N and S nave arcade, the E crossing arch, and fragments of bay 1 responds and arches leading into the transept from the N and S aisles. The neo-Romanesque exterior S doorway, in the eastern bay of the S aisle, is completely of the 19thc. restoration.

III Exterior Features

1. Doorways

(i) S doorway

Round-headed, of two orders. This doorway is completely renewed; probably part of the 1871 rebuilding of the S aisle by Fowler.

3. Exterior Decoration

c. Corbel Tables, corbels

(i) Nave, S wall

Just above the clerestory windows and extending the entire length of the nave is a corbel table. The shape is an undulating, separated scale ornament with a nested semi-circular disc in the separations.

(ii) Nave, N wall

Same type of corbel table as 3.c.(i).

IV Interior Features

1. Arches

b. Tower/Transept arches

(i) Crossing arches

S crossing arch, W triple respond (now exterior, E wall)

If bases are still present they are completely covered by vegetation and may be below ground level. Of the triple respond only two shafts are now visible due to the 19thc. infill to create the present E wall of the church. Responds are coursed and semicircular. The capitals have roll mould necking and are of the multi-scallop type; at the angles there appears to be a linen-fold treatment on the scallop, but the form is very weathered. Imposts have a hollow chamfer. Arches are now gone.

N crossing arch, W triple respond (now exterior, E wall)

Again, no bases evident though they may be completely covered by vegetation and may be below ground level. Of the triple respond only two shafts are now visible as on the S. Responds are coursed and semicircular. The capitals have roll mould necking and carry multi-scallop capitals with nested upright cylinders between the cones and shields incised along their curving edge. Imposts also have a hollow chamfer but also a quirk, roll, and quirk on the upright. Arches are now gone.

W crossing arch triple responds,

Pointed arch, two orders. Originally triple responds but only the W and central shafts are visible due to in-fill of W crossing arch. These are coursed, semicircular shafts on steeply chamfered bases that are several inches below the current level of the nave floor. The capitals of the N respond are triple scallop type with upright cylinders nested between cones and incised groove along curving edge of shields; i.e. they match the N crossing arch capitals now on the exterior. The W capital of the S respond is the same as those on the N respond, but the central capital has broad, upright leaves with arris running down the center of each leaf. All capitals have roll mould necking. Impost is continuous with quirk, roll, and quirk on face on the N respond capitals and possibly on the W capital of the S respond; the impost the central capital of the S respond has just a hollow chamfer.

In the arch:

First order: Clasping chevron on soffit roll and angle roll and then a hollow chamfer on face.

Second order: Frontal chevron clasping roll on face followed by a hollow chamfer.

Label: From the springing of the arch, both L and R, there is a row of recessed, incised scale ornament on lower portion of label mirrored by the same design on the top portion of the label. Then the label shifts to a chamfer on its lower portion and plain face extending to the apex of the arch.

c. Nave arches

(i) S aisle, bay 1

Responds of arch, two orders, leading into S transept; this bay is currently used as the vestry.

Dimensions

N triple respond:

W nook-shaft and central shaft are in interior, the E nook-shaft is on the exterior, separated from others by wall in-fill. The crossing pier to which this respond is attached has a chamfered jamb with a scallop capital at the top of the chamfer.

W nook-shaft:

No base; detached, coursed shaft. Simply carved multi-scallop capital similar to that on the N nook-shaft of the E respond from the N arcade. Thick roll mould necking. Impost continuous with the E respond of S arcade: chamfered with a quirk, roll, and quirk on upright.

Central respond:

No base; coursed, semi-circular shaft. Multi-scallop capital with upright cylinder between cones; chamfered fillet necking.

E nook-shaft (now exterior):

No base is evident but it may be hidden beneath vegetation and soil. Coursed shaft aligns with the courses of the adjacent triple respond of the SW crossing pier. Very weathered multi-scallop capital with chamfered impost similar to that on the NW crossing capital. Three voussoirs are in situ from the round-headed arch that originally sprang from this respond. From these voussoirs now springs a pointed arch that is in-filled with irregularly coursed ashlar and a lancet window.

S respond:

Originally this was likely a triple respond but only central portion now remains; much of it is embedded in the wall in-fill to the E and S. Here the base is still present and is a steeply chamfered type as found on the nave arcades. The capital is same as on the central respond of the N side of this arch.

Arch, pointed, of two orders

First order: Half roll on soffit with chamfer on the angle.

Second order: Plain with the important exception of the lower N side springing which has three voussoirs with frontal chevron clasping a roll in hollow on face followed by a quirk. This is same design as on the adjacent bay 1 arch of the S arcade.

Label: Just a fragment remains above the lower N side springing of the arch and it shows two rows of saw tooth moulding.

(ii) N aisle, bay 1

S triple respond of arch, two orders, leading into N transept (this bay is currently fitted out with a toilet and sink). Only whitewashed fragments of the S respond are visible. As in the same bay of the S aisle, the crossing pier to which this respond is attached has a chamfered jamb with a scallop capital at the top of the chamfer.

Dimensions

W nook-shaft:

Base very worn, but does not appear to be the steep-chamfered type found elsewhere in the church; looks more bulbous. Detached shaft. Capital has fillet necking and only the lower part of two cones are still extent to show that originally this was a double-scallop capital.

Central respond:

Only a fragment of the E face of the capital remains projecting from the wall. Originally a sheathed, multi-scallop capital type; a small section of the necking is flush with the wall and appears to have been fillet type necking. Impost chamfered with quirk on upright.

2. Arcades

c. Nave

(i) S arcade

Bays 1-6, round-headed.

Dimensions

E triple respond

N nook-shaft is on a steeply chamfered base like those supporting the shafts of the W crossing arch; this one is also below present floor level, but is exposed. The sheathed, double scallop capital and impost on this shaft is renewed. The central and S shafts have no bases. Central capital is multi-scalloped with sheathed cones; there is a small triangular upright form on the sheath in the middle of the W face. This capital has fillet necking. The NW angle has been cut back. The S capital is double scallop type with sheathed cones and fillet necking. Continuous imposts are chamfered with a quirk, roll, and quirk on upright; this is same treatment as the on the N imposts of the W crossing arch.

Bay 1, arch, two orders

First order: half roll on soffit and angle roll in hollow on N side and a hollow chamfer on the S side.

Second order: frontal chevron clasping roll in hollow and a quirk above on N side; S side is plain.

Label: chamfered fillet terminating with a beast head in pier 1 spandrel; the label and the beast head stop are renewed.

Pier 1:

Steeply chamfered base, the N half of which is embedded in the floor; coursed, cylindrical column carries a multi-scallop, nicked capital with fillet necking and a hollow chamfer impost. The SE and NW corners of the capital and most of the impost are renewed.

Bay 2, arch, two orders

First order: as bay 1 arch, first order on both N and S sides.

Second order: plain on N side as well as S side.

Label: as bay 1 label.

Pier 2:

As Pier 1 but cones are sheathed. N half and SE angle are renewed.

Bay 3 arch:

As bay 2 arch.

Pier 3:

As Pier 2. NE section and SE corner are renewed.

Bay 4 arch:

As bay 2 arch.

Pier 4:

As Pier 2. N side of impost is renewed.

Bay 5 arch: two orders

First order: angle roll flanked by smaller roll in hollow on both soffit and face on the N side. S side is plain.

Second order: plain on N and S sides as in bay 2 arch, second order.Label: as bay 1 label.

Pier 5:

As Pier 2. N side of impost is renewed.

Bay 6 arch:

As bay 5 arch. Here the most of the label, except the lower L section, looks to be good Romanesque work.

W triple respond:

Nook-shafts are coursed, detached and on steep, slightly hollow mould bases. central shaft has an attic base thought the lower torus is really chamfered. S nook-shaft capital is triple scallop. central capital is multi-scallop with upright triangular arris between cones and, on the E face, the curving edge of the shields are incised. The R nook-shaft capital is multi-scalloped with a central flute running down the length of the cone. All with fillet necking and hollow chamfer imposts as on E respond.

(ii) N arcade

Bays 1-6, round-headed.

Dimensions

E triple respond

The bases are steeply chamfered and the S nook-shaft base is below floor level as on S arcade, E respond. All shafts are coursed. The S nook-shaft capital is multi-scallop type with sheathed wedge cones (rather than rounded cones), fillet necking. Continuous impost is chamfered with a roll, and quirk on upright; this is the same treatment as the on the E respond of the S arcade and the N imposts of the W crossing arch. The central capital is multi-scallop type with sheathed cones. Necking and impost as on S nook-shaft. The S half of the central capital and the complete S nook-shaft capital and impost are renewed. The N nook-shaft capital is multi-scallop type with sheathed wedge cones as on its S counterpart. Necking and impost are as on S counterpart as well.

Bay 1 arch: two orders

First order: half roll on soffit and hollow angle with quirk on face on the S side and on the N side but no quirk on face.

Second order: plain.

Label: on S side only; same as on S arcade.

Pier 1:

The S and W portions of the base are missing, but a section in the current 'kitchen' area (E bay of N aisle is presently walled to form a room) shows a steeply chamfered base. Coursed column with multi-scallop nicked capital and chamfered fillet necking. The S half of the capital and the impost are renewed; this section of the capital has two small upright rolls between cones. Impost as on S arcade piers.

Bay 2 arch:

As bay 1 arch.

Pier 2:

Base, column, and necking as Pier 1. The capital has broad leaves with small angle volutes and upright semi-oval form in center of face; impost as Pier 1.

Bay 3 arch:

As bay 1 arch.

Pier 3:

Square pier containing rood stair.

Bay 4 arch:

As bay 1 arch. The beast head label stop above Pier 4 is authentic.

Pier 4:

As Pier 1 except multi-scallop capital has upright triangular arris between cones. Fillet necking.

Bay 5 arch:

Same as bay 5 of arcade. On the N side of this arch, the E side springer of the first order has an angle roll with a lateral chevron on face and soffit (LI123:14). Label as before, but looks to be good 12thc. material.

Pier 5:

As Pier 4.

Bay 6 arch:

As bays 5 and 6 on S arcade. Label good.

W triple respond:

Nook-shafts are coursed, detached and on steep, steeply chamfered bases; central semi-circular, coursed shaft on same type of base. Nook-shaft capitals as Pier 2 but without upright semi-oval form central capital is sheathed, multi-scallop type with chamfered fillet necking.

VII History

In the Domesday Survey, Freiston is mentioned as one of three 'hundreds' attached to the land of Robert of Vessey in Caythorpe. Within these portions of land were two churches and two priests; so it is possible that Freiston had a church as early as 1086. St. James was given by Alan de Creun (Croun) to the Benedictines at Crowland Abbey in 1114. Sometime after that Freiston Priory of St. James was founded by the monks of Crowland; it continued in existence until 1539 when it was dissolved.

VIII Comments/Opinions

The exterior S doorway is completely renewed, part of Fowler’s 1871 rebuilding of the S aisle. It is not possible to determine the accuracy of this rebuilding. However, the capitals are very similar to the good 12thc. capitals on the S priest's doorway at the neighboring church of Fishtoft, St. Guthlac. Perhaps Fowler used these as his model. The undulating corbel table of the exterior nave walls is the same type as that found at St. Swithin, Bicker (nave), St. Martin, Ancaster (chancel), and Holy Trinity, Allington (bellcote). The fact that it extends for the entire length of the nave should raise a question about its authenticity when one considers the 13thc. lengthening of the nave by three bays, the 15thc. date of the clerestory, and the exterior work by Fowler. The carving on the N side looks crisp and more recent than the worn S side. The central capitals and imposts of the W crossing arch have sharper edges than their counterparts to the W; are they perhaps inserts from Fowler's 1871 restoration?

IX Bibliography