Church of St James, Winscombe

About

The Church of St James in Winscombe, Somerset, England, has 12th- or 13th-century origins but the present building dates from the 15th century. It is a Grade I listed building. There are no records remaining of the Norman church on the site, though the font and a single lancet window date from the period, and a Deed of Gift survives confirming that the church was consecrated by Bishop Jocelin on 26 August 1236.

It was given by him to the Dean and Chapter of Wells Cathedral three years later. The four-stage 100-foot (30.5 m) tower ("one of the most elegant" in Somerset) was added around 1435, by Bishop John Harewell, and at the same time stained glass was added. The church was restored and a new chancel added in 1863.

The rebuilding of the chancel was undertaken by William Burges. He was commissioned by the Reverend John Augustus Yatman, whose brother had been Burges's main client for painted furniture. Burges and his team, including Fred Weekes and Gualbert Saunders, also undertook the design of three stained-glass lancet windows in the chancel, in memory of Yatman's mother.

Pevsner appreciated their quality, "much better aesthetically is the glass in the chancel," but erroneously...