St James, Birlingham, Worcestershire

I Location

Site Location
Birlingham
National Grid Reference
SO 932 431
County
traditional: Worcestershire
now: Worcestershire
Diocese
medieval: Worcester
now: Worcester
Dedication
medieval: not confirmed
now (or name of monument): St James
Type of building/monument
Parish church

II General Description

The church was rebuilt in 1871-2, but retains its 15thc. W tower. There is Romanesque sculpture in the Lychgate entrance to the churchyard, which incorporates the chancel arch of the old church.

III Exterior Features

3. Exterior Decoration

d. Miscellaneous

(i) Lychgate incorporating the old chancel arch

Round-headed, one order on each face.

Front (road side): plain engaged nook shafts on bulbous bases; plain neckings, cushion capitals with angle tucks, the R with losses at the angle, and plain chamfered imposts. In the arch, one row of recessed chevron, frontal to the face. The label bears two rows of lateral chevrons, centrifugally carved and with a cogwheel edge, the chevrons emphasized by reeling. Much of the work is renewed, but some of the label voussoirs bearing chevron may be original. In the spandrels, two modern roundels carved with Evangelist symbols, the angel of St Mathew (L) and the lion of St Mark (R).

Rear (church side): plain nook shafts on bulbous bases; plain neckings, cushion capitals with angle tucks and plain chamfered imposts. Fat nook roll in the arch. In the spandrels, two roundels showing the winged bull of St Luke (L) and the eagle of St John (R). All the work on this side of the arch is modern.

IV Interior Features

1. Arches

a. Chancel arch/Apse arches

(i) Chancel arch

See para. III 3d(i) above.

VII History

In 1086, Birlingham belonged to St Peter's, Westminster. It had been an endowment of Pershore Abbey but was granted to Westminster by Edward the Confessor. At Domesday and in the 13th century Birlingham was a chapel dependent on Nafford.

VIII Comments/Opinions

IX Bibliography

  • N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England. Worcestershire, Harmondsworth 1968, 87.
  • The Victoria History of the Counties of England. Worcestershire, vol.IV, London 1924, 24–28.