Follow the brown signs

A church for the wool workers

St James is a pretty, light-filled Medieval church of mellow Cotswold stone that stands on a steep hillside, overlooking a valley towards the Cotswold escarpment.

Its original structure was substantially rebuilt in the 15th century, paid for from the wealth created from the woollen cloth trade. But St James’ lost its wool-working congregation from the 18th century when the industry shifted to the valley and the church became isolated and escaped later restoration.

It has a pretty saddleback tower, roofs of Cotswold stone and large windows flooding the empty church with light.

An elegant porch leads to the fine 14th-century north door.

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