St James’ Church was built in the village of Ireby in 1845-6 to replace the old church, which is located about a mile away from the village centre. The baptismal font and a few other carved stones from the old church were taken to the new church.

See: Ireby, Old Church

Hyde and others suggest that the baptismal font is Norman. It is thought by many that it may be of a similar date to the late-12th century east extension of the old church. Within Cumbria, comparisons of the foliate motifs on the E face of the Ireby font can be made with those on the baptismal font at Bowness-on-Solway. Baptismal fonts in Cumbria closely related to that at Ireby are lacking, but comparisons of the carved motifs can be made with Romanesque fonts elsewhere in England at places such as Stone (Bucks.) and Toftrees (Norfolk). The cross shape at Ireby is unusual for the date of the font, as it resembles more closely crosses of the pre-Conquest period in form.