History

Staple's Church

St. James The Great

Page 2

The Long Nave:

 This has a 'king-post' type of open timber roof with eight massive tie-beams.  The sense of spaciousness and length was enhanced in 1951, when an over-ornate raredos was removed, together with the chancel screen and some high-backed stalls in the sanctuary.

Niches & Windows:

The East window is late 13th century and forms a fine raredos for the high alter.    In the East wall there is a small aumbry, and in the South wall of the sanctuary there is a piscina, slightly scalloped.  Near the floor on the North side of the chancel, close to the vestry door, there is a small niche, thought to be the remains of a Pre-Reformation Easter Sepulchre.  Behind the priest's stall, to the right of the chancel step, is a 13th century Low side window of lancet type, sometimes referred to as a Leper window'.  Other windows date from the fourteenth century onwards.

The North Aisle:

This was added to the main building in the fifteenth century, and some of its memorial plaques show that  there are vaults beneath the floor.  The Lynch Chapel was built a little earlier, and contains monuments to prominent members of that family, which lived for generations at Groves, but have long since left these parts.

The Organ:

The present organ was donated to the church by local residents Mr & Mrs Burges.  This replaced an organ which had been brought to Staple Church from Fredville Park, Nonnington after the First World War.  (Which itself replaced an even earlier American organ).

Outside The Church:

There is much carving to be seen on the North side, including two animal gargoyles high up on the tower.  Near the South-West corner of the tower are horizontal stones, providing evidence of the Saxon method of 'Long & Short' masonry.  The South wall of the Nave is Norman; about 1100 A.D., and on the outside of the Low side window are several Scratch Dials, though none very clear.

Bus Timetables |  Maps  | Post Codes | The Black Pig  | The Three Tuns  | The Frog & Orange  |  Local Businesses  |  Layham Nurseries  |  Summerfields Nurseries  |  History  |  Staple Church  |  Barnsole Vineyard  |  Staple & Woodnesborough Parishes  |  Virtual Tous  | Old Photos  | Staple's Neighbours  |  Links  |  Nearby Facilities  |  Staple Groups & Organisations  |  Useful Contact Numbers  |  Parish Council |  Latest Council Minutes  |  Pre-School  |  Village Hall  |  Kent Fire & Rescue  |  Sandwich Neighbourhood Forum  |  News & Events  | View Guestbook |  Sign Guestbook  |  View Archived Entries  | View Forum  |  Add to Forum  |  Shatterling Post Codes  |  Shatterling History  |  Shatterling Old Photos  |  Shatterling News & Events  |  Shatterling Virtual Tour  | Site Map  |  Link To Staple Online  |  Neighbourhood Police Officer