St James' Church, Birdham
Encyclopedia
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.
in 1863 and 1882-83 by G.M. Hills. Architectural historian Ian Nairn
says that the impression left by the restoration is "terrifyingly harsh".
in the background. It was made by M.C.F. Bell in 1978. There are a fourteenth century bell, inscribed "IOHANES" and one with the name William Hunneman and the date 1695.
Birdham
Birdham is a village and civil parish in the Chichester District of West Sussex, England. It is located on the Manhood Peninsula, about three miles south west of the city of Chichester...
is situated on the Manhood Peninsula
Manhood Peninsula
The Manhood Peninsula is the southernmost part of Sussex in England. It has the English channel to its south and Chichester to the north.The peninsula is bordered to its west by Chichester Harbour and to its east by Pagham Harbour, its southern headland being Selsey Bill.-Name:The name Manhood has...
in Sussex. The area is a suburban extension of the city of Chichester
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
, popular as a place to live and visit from its nearness to the city, Chichester Harbour
Chichester Harbour
Chichester Harbour is a large natural harbour to the south west of the city of Chichester on the Solent. It straddles the boundary of West Sussex and Hampshire. Geographically it is a ria. It is one of four natural harbours in that area of the coastline, the others being Portsmouth Harbour,...
and marina. The church was heavily restored
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
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 restoredVictorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
in 1863 and 1882-83 by G.M. Hills. Architectural historian Ian Nairn
Ian Nairn
Ian Nairn was a British architectural critic and topographer.He had no formal architecture qualifications; he was a mathematics graduate and a Royal Air Force pilot...
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 buttresses. It was built around 1545, but an earlier tower may have been either planned or actually built. The evidence for this is in the sixteenth century Perpendicular style tower arch which sits on apparently fourteenth century shafts which are too small for it, leading to an awkward appearance. The chancel dates entirely from the restoration of 1863. It has fourteenth century style windows and a buttress in the middle of the north and south walls. The chancel arch is fourteenth century.Fittings and bells
The plain octagonal font was put in in 1883. The banner, with scenes from the lives of Sussex saints, was designed by Yvonne Hudson and worked by the ladies of the church. The modern east window shows the gospel story of the miraculous catch of fish with Chichester cathedralChichester Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, otherwise called Chichester Cathedral, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Chichester. It is located in Chichester, in Sussex, England...
in the background. It was made by M.C.F. Bell in 1978. There are a fourteenth century bell, inscribed "IOHANES" and one with the name William Hunneman and the date 1695.