history
 

Introduction

Norman Scribes mentioned Hemingford (then spelt Hemminggeford) in AD 1000. St James’ Church is over 800 years old and has seen many changes but hundreds of people continue to flock through its church doors every year:

 

The Scallop shell, symbol of St. James, to whom the Church was dedicated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

James was one of the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus.  He and his brother John, heard the call to follow the Lord when their fishing boat with their father, Zebedee, mending their nets.  Without hesitation they left everything to follow him. (See Mark 1 v 20)

 

He learned many things from Jesus, but in particular the lesson of humility and service to others (see Mark v35-45).  He was present when Jesus raised to life Jairus’ daughter, and at the great moment of the Transfiguration when God confirmed Jesus as His son, strengthening his faith.

 

James was the first of the twelve apostles to be martyred, just before Peter was imprisoned by King Herod (See Acts 2).

Christians throughout the ages have tried to follow the example of saints – those ordinary people who sacrificed their lives to show us something of the love of God for mankind.

 

Santiago de Compostela, N.W. Spain is traditionally supposed to be the place of burial of St James, and pilgrims continue to make their way there to this day.  Carvings of a shell in a place of worship bearing his name would often indicate that the person who founded that church would have been on such a pilgrimage.

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Time-line Summary

 

c1160  First building erected on the site.  The original church probably consisted of a short chancel, an aisle-less nave and a central tower.

c1210 A south aisle of at least two bays added and soon after a north aisle, the chancel rebuilt and lengthened.

c1270 The central tower was removed and the nave and aisles were extended one bay eastwards to the chancel arch.

c1320 Both aisles were widened.

c1390 The western tower was built, probably involving the destruction of the western end of the nave and the collapse of the western arch of the northern arcade, which was rebuilt as the pointed arch.

c1500 The vestry was added to the nave, and the roof of the south aisle was renewed.

mid 1600s In Oliver Cromwell’s time Royalists and Parliamentarians caused divided loyalties.

c1659 The date of the earliest memorial in the church, a floor slab in the south aisle to William Mason.

1673 Date of the earliest church register now extant.

1684/5 This is the date of the hallmark of a silver cup and paten which are the earliest items among the church plate.

1724 The present six bells were recast from an earlier peal of five by Thomas Eayre of Kettering.

1741 A hurricane destroyed the spire, which was leveled off and finished in its present form.

1782 The no. 3 bell was recast by Edward Arnold of St. Neots.

1859 Extensive restoration work was undertaken, including a new chancel arch, exterior renovation of the chancel, rebuilding of the north aisle and the addition of the vestry.

1882 The bells were re-hung by W. Eaton of Tichmarch, Northants.

1884 The tower clock was erected by public subscriptions at a cost of £100.

1889 The last recorded burial in the church yard (the present cemetery is in Pound Road).

1914 The western tower was restored.

1960/61 The north parapet of the nave was rebuilt, the nave roof was repaired and the north aisle was re-roofed in copper.

1964 New Communion table and rails installed.

1977 Tower screen erected, church re-floored. Heating ducts under the floor, new seating, and organ overhauled and improved.

1988 Bell tower restored and two more bells added, making a peal of eight.

2004 Sundial on the south clerestory replaced with a slate replica and the original hung in the ringing chamber.

2009/10 The roof structure was strengthened; the south clerestorey and parpet and chancel arch parapet re-built; new drainage from refurbished pipes and gullies installed and the land redued to its former ground level around the base of the walls.

The Bells:  Every Sunday, and on special occasions, 8 church bells ring out, telling villagers that a service is about to begin. There were originally 5 bells, which were recast and increased to 6 in 1724 by Thomas Eayre, the Kettering bell founder. In 1556 the sound of bells saved the life of Robert Langley, lost in thick mist over St Ives meadow near the river.  In gratitude he bequeathed one shilling a year in perpetuity to each of the bell ringers (England has over 5,000 towers with bells and people of all ages volunteer to ring them).

The Bell Tower: 18th century ships timbers were replaced in 1990 by a steel frame to include two extra bells to complete the peal of eight.  Further details can be found on the tower screen.  The tower clock was erected by public subscription in 1884.

The Spire:   You would have to look in the river to find the spire today!  Above the castellation of the church tower is the base of the original spire destroyed by a storm in 1741.  A stone from the spire was hurled 20 yards and broke a window pane in Hemingford Grey house.  This was engraved with the record of the storm and is in the possession of Lt. Col. Scott, one time resident of the house.

The Roof: Originally steep-pitched roof of thatch or tile. In 16th century the walls of the arcades were raised and a clerestory added.

The Boundary Wall to the churchyard at one time adjoined the cottage at the end of Church Street; two layers of remaining bricks at the base of the cottage remain.  Beyond the boundary were open fields to the High Street and Vicarage.  To the north and east is the ancient boundary wall between Hemingford Grey House, the home of the previous patron, through which an opening still exists (the Patron’s door).

The Churchyard officially closed for burial and in the care of the District Council; the church maintains it on their behalf. Some of the headstones date from the 17th century, but the last recorded burial in the churchyard was in 1890.  The large tombstone by the gate mentions Charles Desborough, from a family of noted local builders, who died in Hungary, aged 25 years.  On the other side is an accolade to any mother from Proverbs chapter 31 verse 28.  Cremated remains are interred in the small Garden of Remembrance and names are recorded in the Book of Remembrance in the south aisle of the church.

River site— the church is built on the bank of the Great Ouse where it was easy to transport building materials such as Barnack stone.