Wikipedia

St James's Church, Kingston, Purbeck

TheChurch of St Jamesis theparish churchfor the village ofKingston,located on theIsle of PurbeckinDorset.The church is a notable example of theGothic Revival styleand is a Grade Ilisted building.[2]

St James's Church, Kingston
St James's Church, Kingston, from the west (May 2021)
St James's Church, Kingston is located in Dorset
St James's Church, Kingston
St James's Church, Kingston
Location within Dorset
LocationKingston, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, England
CountryUnited Kingdom
DenominationAnglican
History
Founded1874
DedicationSt James the Great
Architecture
Functional statusParish church
Architect(s)George Edmund Street
StyleGothic Revival
Years built1874-1880
Construction cost£70,000 (1880)
Specifications
Bells10
Tenor bell weight26cwt-3qrs-16lbs in D
Administration
ProvinceCanterbury
DioceseSalisbury
ArchdeaconryDorset
DeaneryPurbeck
BeneficeSt Aldhelm[1]
ParishKingston
Clergy
Assistant priest(s)Revd James Mercer
Listed Building– Grade I
Official nameParish Church of Saint James
Designated20 November 1959
Reference no.1120984

History

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From the 12th century, Kingston was achapelryof nearbyCorfe Castle,served by achapel of easein the east of the village.[3]In 1833,John Scott,1stEarl of Eldon,demolished the old chapel and rebuilt it, at his own expense, on the same site to become the parish church. The new chapel, dedicated to St James, was designed in theGothic Revival stylebyGeorge Stanley Reptonand followed the plan of the original chapel.[3]

In 1873, John Scott III, now the 3rd Earl of Eldon, commissionedGeorge Edmund Streetto draw up designs for a much larger church (the present building), on a new site in the village, for use as a private chapel for the Eldon estate. Construction commenced the following year, and within only six years, the new church was finished, at a cost of £70,000.[4]This was a massive sum of money for such a tiny village, and according to theNational Archives,equivalent to more than £4.3 million in 2017.[5]

The church remained as a private chapel for the Eldon estate until 1921, when the now Lord Eldon conveyed the entire chapel to theChurch Commissionersand on October 11 of that year, was consecrated.[6]In January 1922, the Church Commissioners replaced the original chapel as the parish church, substituting it for Street's church.[7]The original 1833 chapel then became thechurch hallfor many years, until it was sold to be converted to a private residence in 1977. The former church remains a private residence to this day.

In the 1980s, serious work was required on the church to prevent further damage and to keep it standing. Due to its prominent and exposed position, located on a limestoneescarpmentin thePurbeck Hillssome 135 metres (443 feet)[8]above sea level, the church suffered extensive weathering and significant erosion from storms. Despite the small congregation, fundraising and repairs were completed by the end of the decade.[7][9]

Architecture

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Influences

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There have been several suggestions by prominent architectural historians as to the inspiration Street used for the design at Kingston.Gavin Stampsuggested 13th-century French Gothic influences in the apse, and that Kingston's tower was based upon the church atNorrey-en-Bassin,located inNormandy,France.[10][11]David Brownlee believed Kingston was based upon theChurch of the Holy AngelsatHoar CrossinStaffordshire,which was designed by Street's friendGeorge Frederick Bodley.[10]Nikolaus Pevsnernoted that the stair turret on Kingston's north transept was a replica of that atChristchurch Priory,at the time inHampshire,now in Dorset.[10]English Heritage record it as having 13th-centuryEarly English Gothicinfluences.[2]

  • The church at Norrey-en-Bassin, which was said to be the inspiration for Kingston's tower
  • Holy Angels, Hoar Cross, Staffordshire
  • The north transept stair turret at Christchurch Priory, which was copied by Street for Kingston

Exterior

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For such a small parish, having a population of only 166 residents (2011 estimate[12]), the present church is of substantial size, giving it the nickname of the "Cathedral of the Purbecks". The building is cruciform in plan, with a four-bay aislednave,transepts,apse,and central tower. The west end begins with alean-tonarthexwhich runs the full width of the nave.[2]Above the narthex is a largerose window,some 12 feet (3.7 metres)[4]in diameter, formed of 21 individual segments.[13]The naveaislesboth finish with singlelancetwindows and feature four pairs of smaller lancet windows, separated bybuttresses,along the length of the nave. The naveclerestoryabove is similar in plan, with four pairs of slightly larger lancet windows with smaller buttresses.[2]

The church features twotransepts,one each to the north and south of the tower, which are one bay in length. The south transept is lit by three large lancet windows, that of the north transept is lit with only two. The north transept features a latticed stairturreton its north-east side, inspired by that at Christchurch. A double-gabledvestry projects eastwards from the north transept. East of the crossing lies thechanceland sanctuary, each of one bay, the latter terminating in anapse.The chancel and apse are again lit by lancet windows, separated by gabled buttresses.[2]

The central tower is the chief feature of the church, and it rises two stories above the ridge of the roof. Supported by angle buttresses, the ringing chamber is lit by three lancet windows on the west and north sides, those of the south and east sides only featuring one central lancet. The belfry stage above follows the same plan, with two sides containing three lancets, and two sides containing one. However, these arelouvred,rather than glazed. They also feature several recessed arches surrounding the louvres. The tower is crowned with a mouldedparapet,which features stepped coning.[2]

Interior

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The nave, looking west towards the rose window.

Entering the nave from the narthex, it is formed of four bays, aisled, with a clerestory above. The nave arcades are decorated with dog-tooth carvings, with minor differences between those on the south and north arcades, andstiff-leaf capitals.The nave aisle windows depict biblical figures and saints, which are attributed toClayton and Bell.[13]The larger lancets that face westwards in the aisles representNoahand hisark.The main feature of the nave is the large rose window, reminiscent of that atLausanne Cathedral,Switzerland,[14]which was designed by Street and executed by Clayton and Bell.[4]Unlike the transepts, chancel and crossing, neither the nave nor aisles are vaulted in stone, instead, thewagon roof,featuringpurlins,is open to the church.[2]

The crossing and transepts featurequadripartite vaulting,that of the sanctuary is asexpartite vault.[2]Thecrossingarches are similar to those of the nave arcade, with moulded capitals. The nave is separated from the rest of the church by a finewrought ironscreen located in the crossing, surmounted by a large and intricate cross. The crossing features the original Victorianchoir stalls,made of oak, and can seat tenchoristerson each side.[13]The vault below the crossing tower has a large removable hatch to allow the bells to be raised or lowered to and from the tower.

The chancel is the most richly decorated part of the church, with Purbeck marble shafts lining the windows, and it is raised several steps above the level of the crossing. The sanctuary has both apiscinaandsedillanear the altar.[2]

The church has fine ceramic Victorian floor tiles, of various sizes and designs, most likely manufactured byMintons of Stoke-upon-Trent.[15]

Materials

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The exterior of the church is built frombroken shell limestone,otherwise known as Burr, sourced from within the 3rd Earl of Eldon'sown estateatBlashenwell Farm Pit,less than a mile away.[15][13]The stone has now got a pink hue, caused byalgaegrowing on the building.[16]

The interior of the church is fabricated from two different types of stone, both quarried in Purbeck itself. The columns and pillars of the arches are made from polishedPurbeck marble,famous for its use in the 'great churches' in England, such asSalisbury CathedralandWestminster Abbey.[13][17]The greater part of the interior, including the walls and arches are made fromPortland stone,famous for its use inSt Paul's Cathedral.Stone for both of these churches was also quarried locally.[15][18]

The oak for the choir stalls, doors, organ case and roofs were taken from mature trees in the Eldon estate atStowell ParkinGloucestershire.[7][19]

The chancel steps, which raise the sanctuary above the crossing and nave, were made ofcrinoidallimestone from thePeak DistrictinDerbyshire.The altar itself stands on aCarrara marblebase fromTuscany,Italy.[15]

Organ

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The church's organ is formed of three-manualsand was originally made in 1880 by Maley, Young & Oldknow of London.[20]The organ keys are made ofivory,and the case and keys from oak. The pipes themselves are made from 'spotted' metal, analloyofcopper,tin,leadandzinc,and some of them were made by renowned French organ builderCavaillé-Col.[9][21]

The organ has 34 stops and 4 divisions, featuring several hundred pipes. The only visible part of the organ is in the north transept, with much of the mechanics in the brick-lined crypt below the chancel.[9]The organ has been repaired and restored multiple times: once in 1904 by Gray and Davison where the entire instrument was cleaned; again in 1913, also byGray and Davison,when it was cleaned again; in 1935, by George Osmond & Co ofTauntonwhen the entire organ was overhauled; and lastly overhauled again between 1992 and 1993 by D.P. Thompson ofBridport.The last restoration was financed by theNational Heritage Memorial Fund,thePilgrim Trust,the Talbot Village Trust andDorset County Council.

TheBritish Institute of Organ Studieshas awarded Grade I listed status to the organ in 2014 as part of the Historic Organ Listing Scheme.[20][22]

Bells

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Detail on Street's substantial central tower, a local landmark

The large central tower was designed by Street for a ring of bells from the outset. The original peal of bells, like the church, was commissioned by the 3rd Earl of Eldon and were intended to match the scale of the church.John Taylor & CoofLoughboroughwere commissioned to cast the bells in 1878, and these were a ring of eight, with a tenor of 28 and a halfhundredweight(1448 kilograms).[23]The bells were hung in a new oak frame, which still holds the bells to this day.

On 24 July 1880, eight members of theAncient Society of College Youthsfrom theCity of Londonwere invited by Lord Eldon to attend the consecration of the church and bells, after which they attempted the first fullpealon the bells.[24]If they had been successful, this would have been the first full peal in Dorset, but the peal failed after some 3,500changes.[23]

The bells remained this way until the restoration of 1920–1921, when again at Lord Eldon's expense, the bells were completely overhauled by John Taylor & Co. All eight bells were lowered from the tower and sent to Taylor's foundry, where the treble (lightest) and tenor (heaviest) bells were recast, using the newly discovered "true-harmonic" tuning, which significantly improved the sound of the ring. The other six bells were retuned, and all eight bells received new fittings, including new cast iron headstocks,gudgeons,ballbearingsandclappers.They were then rehung in the original frame.[23]This new tenor bell, which is still the present incarnation of the bell, now weighs just under 27 hundredweight (1366 kilograms) and is tuned to D.[25]

In 1983, serious problems were found with the bell frame, which at that time had just passed its 100th anniversary of construction, the massive oak supporting beams underneath it and the bell fittings themselves.[9]Restoration work began in 1984 and lasted through to 1989. This restoration work involved John Taylor & Co returning to lift all the bells from their bearings to clean them, and generally renovate all the fittings, which were becoming worn, and making the bells difficult to ring. The frame was stabilised, beginning with volunteer ringers fromWimborne Minster,who inserted 20 vertical steeltie rodsthrough the frame,rebushingthe clappers.[26][27]The decayed support beams were repaired or replaced.[9]

In the late 1990s, thanks to a benefaction by Ron Pocklington, a ringer fromSwanage,an order was placed to augment the bells to ten with the addition of two treble bells. To prepare for this, the Swanage ringers added further steel bracing was added to the original oak frame, theground pulleysfor the bell ropes were replaced, wooden wedges were removed from the frame, and steel foundation beams were added.[26]A new steel upper frame was constructed by Nicholson Engineering ofBridportabove the oak frame, resting on the new foundation beams, to house one of the new treble bells and one of the existing bells.[23][28]

The new bells were cast and tuned by John Taylor & Co in 2000, and hung by Nicholson's. To accommodate the new bells, the original second bell, now the fourth after the addition of the two new bells, and the new second bell, were hung in the new upper frame. The new treble bell and the original treble bell (now the third after the addition) were hung in the original oak frame. They were the first (and so far only) ring of ten bells on the Isle of Purbeck and are the fourth heaviest ring in Dorset, after onlySherborne Abbey,Wimborne Minster and Christchurch Priory.[23][29]

Since then, the bells have had no major attention. They are well regarded by ringers nationwide for the quality of their tone, and the summer months see frequent visiting bands.[30]

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  • View of church from NE
  • View of eastern end and apse
  • Nave and crossing
  • View from the east over the village
  • Porch and narthex
  • View of old church from the new one

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related toSt James' Church, Kingston, Purbeck.
  1. ^"Kingston: St James".A Church Near You.Archbishops' Council.Retrieved18 May2021.
  2. ^abcdefghiHistoric England."Parish Church of Saint James (Grade I) (1120984)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved15 June2014.
  3. ^abWhite, Martin."Kingston Old Church".Kingston Past & Present.Retrieved18 May2021.
  4. ^abcAdeney, Robin."Kingston".Dorset Historic Churches Trust.Retrieved18 May2021.
  5. ^"Currency converter: 1270–2017".The National Archives.Retrieved18 May2021.
  6. ^"St James' Church, Kingston".Benefice of Saint Aldhelm.12 April 2016.Retrieved19 May2021.
  7. ^abcWhite, Martin."Kingston New Church".Kingston Past & Present.Retrieved18 May2021.
  8. ^Retrieved fromOrdnance Surveymaps.
  9. ^abcdeHardy, Terry, L (2011).St. James Kingston - an Illustrated History Project(PDF).Kingston OPC.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^abcDay, Michael (1998)."Kingston (St. James), Dorset".Dorset Churches.Retrieved18 May2021.
  11. ^Stamp, Gavin (2 June 2003)."High Victorian Gothic and the architecture of Normandy".The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians.62(2): 204.doi:10.2307/3592477.JSTOR3592477– viaUniversity of California Press.
  12. ^"Church of England Parish Map".ArcGis.20 July 2020.Retrieved18 May2021.
  13. ^abcdeHardy, Terry, L (2011).St. James Kingston - the Jewel in the Purbeck Hills(PDF).Kingston OPC.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^"A rose window at Kingston, St James".The Online Stained Glass Photographic Archive.Retrieved19 May2021.
  15. ^abcdThomas, Jo; Bath, Pete."Kingston".Dorset Building Stone.Retrieved19 May2021.
  16. ^"Kingston".Visit Wareham.Retrieved19 May2021.
  17. ^"Purbeck Marble - for building decoration".Canterbury Historical and Archaeological Society (CHAS).2015.Retrieved18 May2021.
  18. ^"Portland Stone".Canterbury Historical and Archaeological Society (CHAS).2015.Retrieved19 May2021.
  19. ^"Stowell Park, Yanworth (Grade II) (1000783)".National Heritage List for England.November 1999.Retrieved19 May2021.
  20. ^ab"St James Church, Kingston - Organ specification".The National Pipe Organ Register (NPOR).Retrieved19 May2021.
  21. ^White, Martin."New Church: Organ".Kingston Past & Present.Retrieved19 May2021.
  22. ^"Historic Organ Listing Scheme".The British Institute of Organ Studies.Retrieved19 May2021.
  23. ^abcdeDalton, Christopher (2001).The Bells and Belfries of Dorset.Part 2. Upper Court Press. pp. 368–370.ISBN0-9538616-1-9.{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help)
  24. ^"A New Ring of Eight Bells at Kingston, Wareham, Dorset"(PDF).Church Bells.10:627. 28 August 1880 – via Central Council of Church Bell Ringers.
  25. ^Baldwin, John (15 March 2020)."Tower details - Kingston (Dorset)".Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers.Retrieved19 May2021.
  26. ^abBrown, Christopher (28 April 2000). "Letters to the Editor - Kingston Bells, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset".The Ringing World:434–435.
  27. ^Pocklington, Ron (7 April 2000). "Bright outlook for notable Taylor eight".The Ringing World:342.
  28. ^"Current & Recently Completed Jobs".Nicholson Engineering Ltd.Archivedfrom the original on 28 February 2021.Retrieved5 July2021.
  29. ^Baldwin, John."List of Rings in Dorset - ordered by weight".Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers.Retrieved19 May2021.
  30. ^White, Martin (19 March 2021)."New Church: Bells".Kingston Past & Present.Retrieved19 May2021.
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