St James Church, Brightlingsea (EHER 34247)

Early 19th century church designed by William Mason and built by Aldous boat builders.

Listed building description An early 19th century church designed by William Mason and built by Aldous boat builders. The church is constructed from white brick and it has a grey slate roof, pierced ridge tiles. The coped south gable faces Victoria Place, with three diamond leaded graduated chamfered lancets, labels over. To the right (east) a four stage tower is set forward with a chamfered two centred arched doorway and double vertically boarded doors. Band to second stage. There are two small chamfered lancets with labels and corbelled cornice. The broached octagonal third stage has chamfered lancet louvres with labels to alternate faces. A hipped roof terminates in the slender belfry with narrow louvres to each face and octagonal spire. There are angle buttresses to the second stage. The returns are buttressed with lancets between. There is a gabled porch to the left return with a two centred arched doorway. The town clock, which was erected to commemorate Queen Victoria's Jubilee is attached to the second stage of the tower by iron brackets. The interior. The roof is boarded above collars. Each tie beam supports a central iron queen post and 2 timber queen posts with V braces. There is a continuous balcony to east and south and west walls supported by cast iron octagonal pillars with moulded capitals and with moulded Gothic panelling, moulded top rail and soffit. Vertically boarded dado. Trefoiled heads to pew ends. Angled wooden pulpit with pierced and carved tracery. Circular stone font with circular stem and base. A tall chamfered two centred arch has been cut through the rear (north) wall and leads into the simple 20th century chapel. There is a carved wooden figure of Christ behind the altar. <1> <2>