St James' Church, Birdham

About

The parish church of St James, Birdham is situated on the Manhood Peninsula in Sussex. The area is a suburban extension of the city of Chichester, popular as a place to live and visit from its nearness to the city, Chichester Harbour and marina. The church was heavily restored in the nineteenth century, the then existing chancel being entirely replaced and the nave windows renewed. The sixteenth-century tower remains. The church has a grade 1 listing.

History: The earliest parts of the church, in the nave, can be definitely dated to the fourteenth century, but some parts may be older. A tower was added in the sixteenth century. The chancel is nineteenth century. The church was restored in 1863 and 1882–83 by G.M. Hills. Architectural historian Ian Nairn says that the impression left by the restoration is "terrifyingly harsh".

Architecture: The church consists of a nave, with a south porch, chancel and tower. The nave is in three bays, marked on the outside by buttresses. The inner stonework of the windows dates from the Victorian restoration. The window in the second bay on the north has some ancient exterior stonework remaining. The squat tower is rendered and has diagonal...