St James's has an aisled nave with no clerestorey, chancel with north vestry and organ room, and a tower at the west end of the nave, south of the south aisle. The nave arcades are of five bays; the south arcade dating from the 13thc., and the north from 1880. The chancel is entirely by Woodyer (1865), and the tower is 14thc. in its lower parts with a Perpendicular bell-storey and battlemented parapet. The only Romanesque sculpture is on a late-12thc. doorway reset in the south nave aisle, protected by a wooden porch built against the east wall of the tower.

In 1086, Colwall belonged to the manor of Cradley. The manor was held (unjustly according to Domesday) by Thormoth of Earl Harold (King Harold II), but was restored after the Conquest to Bishop Walter and the canons of Hereford Cathedral.

Benefice of Colwall with Upper Colwall and Coddington.