ST. JAMES THE APOSTLE, KINGSNYMPTON
This delightful church, with it's very distinctive spire, is an ancient church that seeks to be at the heart of the community serving the whole Parish of Kingsnympton.
Altered and added to over the centuries, its origins date back to the 14th and 15th C. Probably originally a cruciform plan church, the south transept was extended into an aisle sometime around the late 15th C. or early 16th C.
Notable, as you look up at the roof within the church, are the carved bosses, portraying foliage, and heads of men and women. The men, are all grotesque and have mouth-foliage.
The chancel has a wagon roof, which was plastered in the mid 18th C., and is richly painted with clouds surrounding the sun, moon, and a large cross.
A painted depiction of the Royal Arms dated 1742 is over the south porch doorway. Before the middle of the 19th century few churches were without the Royal Arms prominently displayed. During an era of restoration, many of these were relegated to obscurity, or even destroyed.
There is a virtually complete complement of 18th C. box pews, tiered at the west end.
ACCESS:
Please note there are no toilet facilities or induction loop.
Wheelchair access is possible at services.
The nearest parking is in the Village Hall car park approx. 350 yards away.
Altered and added to over the centuries, its origins date back to the 14th and 15th C. Probably originally a cruciform plan church, the south transept was extended into an aisle sometime around the late 15th C. or early 16th C.
Notable, as you look up at the roof within the church, are the carved bosses, portraying foliage, and heads of men and women. The men, are all grotesque and have mouth-foliage.
- The term 'Green Man' , in respect of leaf-covered carved faces found in churches, dates from 1939 when Lady Raglan coined the term "Green Man" in her article "The Green Man in Church Architecture". However there were pubs named “The Green Man,” in the 17th century, and these appear to refer to a leaf-covered Green Man common in 16th century pageantry. Lady Raglan was drawing on this tradition when she named the foliate head “Green Man.”
The chancel has a wagon roof, which was plastered in the mid 18th C., and is richly painted with clouds surrounding the sun, moon, and a large cross.
A painted depiction of the Royal Arms dated 1742 is over the south porch doorway. Before the middle of the 19th century few churches were without the Royal Arms prominently displayed. During an era of restoration, many of these were relegated to obscurity, or even destroyed.
There is a virtually complete complement of 18th C. box pews, tiered at the west end.
ACCESS:
Please note there are no toilet facilities or induction loop.
Wheelchair access is possible at services.
The nearest parking is in the Village Hall car park approx. 350 yards away.
Replacing the copper shingles on the spire 2015/16
