St James's church in the Black Country settlement of Lower Gornal began life in the early 19th century, the oldest parts being the nave and west tower which were built in 1817 by architect Thomas Lee. There was further modification done later in the century culminating in the rebuilding of the chancel in 1889 which gave us the polygonal apse we see today. The churchyard is a haven of peace filled with trees that surround and shelter the church from the surburban environment around it.
The interior betrays the different phases of construction with its two halves, the pre-Victorian nave being quite light, open and spacious whilst possessing something of a pre-ecclesiological austerity in its detail. The later chancel beyond is a darker, more mysterious space, lit by the four windows of the apse (a fifth, actually the central east window, is completely concealed by the tall wooden reredos).
There is some notable glass in the church, one of the apse windows being an early work by Sir Ninian Comper, whilst the easternmost windows on each side of the nave contain charming late Arts & Crafts glass by Florence Camm. The west window under the tower (in the area currently used as the baptistry) also has a fine window in a more contemporary spirit by Hardman's, however the latest windows here are the two westernmost windows of the apse which are my own work (that on the north side was installed in March 2021, whilst work is ongoing on the second window with a view to installing it in the near future).
Lower Gornal church is not usually open outside of services, but they have bravely continued to hold them on Thursdays and Sundays throughout much of the current crisis
More details and photos can be found on the Worcestershire & Dudley Historic Churches site below:-
www.worcesteranddudleyhistoricchurches.org.uk/index.php?p...
Tags: Lower Gornal church West Midlands Black Country
© All Rights Reserved
St James's church in the Black Country settlement of Lower Gornal began life in the early 19th century, the oldest parts being the nave and west tower which were built in 1817 by architect Thomas Lee. There was further modification done later in the century culminating in the rebuilding of the chancel in 1889 which gave us the polygonal apse we see today. The churchyard is a haven of peace filled with trees that surround and shelter the church from the surburban environment around it.
The interior betrays the different phases of construction with its two halves, the pre-Victorian nave being quite light, open and spacious whilst possessing something of a pre-ecclesiological austerity in its detail. The later chancel beyond is a darker, more mysterious space, lit by the four windows of the apse (a fifth, actually the central east window, is completely concealed by the tall wooden reredos).
There is some notable glass in the church, one of the apse windows being an early work by Sir Ninian Comper, whilst the easternmost windows on each side of the nave contain charming late Arts & Crafts glass by Florence Camm. The west window under the tower (in the area currently used as the baptistry) also has a fine window in a more contemporary spirit by Hardman's, however the latest windows here are the two westernmost windows of the apse which are my own work (that on the north side was installed in March 2021, whilst work is ongoing on the second window with a view to installing it in the near future).
Lower Gornal church is not usually open outside of services, but they have bravely continued to hold them on Thursdays and Sundays throughout much of the current crisis
More details and photos can be found on the Worcestershire & Dudley Historic Churches site below:-
www.worcesteranddudleyhistoricchurches.org.uk/index.php?p...
Tags: Lower Gornal church West Midlands Black Country
© All Rights Reserved
St James's church in the Black Country settlement of Lower Gornal began life in the early 19th century, the oldest parts being the nave and west tower which were built in 1817 by architect Thomas Lee. There was further modification done later in the century culminating in the rebuilding of the chancel in 1889 which gave us the polygonal apse we see today. The churchyard is a haven of peace filled with trees that surround and shelter the church from the surburban environment around it.
The interior betrays the different phases of construction with its two halves, the pre-Victorian nave being quite light, open and spacious whilst possessing something of a pre-ecclesiological austerity in its detail. The later chancel beyond is a darker, more mysterious space, lit by the four windows of the apse (a fifth, actually the central east window, is completely concealed by the tall wooden reredos).
There is some notable glass in the church, one of the apse windows being an early work by Sir Ninian Comper, whilst the easternmost windows on each side of the nave contain charming late Arts & Crafts glass by Florence Camm. The west window under the tower (in the area currently used as the baptistry) also has a fine window in a more contemporary spirit by Hardman's, however the latest windows here are the two westernmost windows of the apse which are my own work (that on the north side was installed in March 2021, whilst work is ongoing on the second window with a view to installing it in the near future).
Lower Gornal church is not usually open outside of services, but they have bravely continued to hold them on Thursdays and Sundays throughout much of the current crisis
More details and photos can be found on the Worcestershire & Dudley Historic Churches site below:-
www.worcesteranddudleyhistoricchurches.org.uk/index.php?p...
Tags: Lower Gornal church West Midlands Black Country
© All Rights Reserved
St James's church in the Black Country settlement of Lower Gornal began life in the early 19th century, the oldest parts being the nave and west tower which were built in 1817 by architect Thomas Lee. There was further modification done later in the century culminating in the rebuilding of the chancel in 1889 which gave us the polygonal apse we see today. The churchyard is a haven of peace filled with trees that surround and shelter the church from the surburban environment around it.
The interior betrays the different phases of construction with its two halves, the pre-Victorian nave being quite light, open and spacious whilst possessing something of a pre-ecclesiological austerity in its detail. The later chancel beyond is a darker, more mysterious space, lit by the four windows of the apse (a fifth, actually the central east window, is completely concealed by the tall wooden reredos).
There is some notable glass in the church, one of the apse windows being an early work by Sir Ninian Comper, whilst the easternmost windows on each side of the nave contain charming late Arts & Crafts glass by Florence Camm. The west window under the tower (in the area currently used as the baptistry) also has a fine window in a more contemporary spirit by Hardman's, however the latest windows here are the two westernmost windows of the apse which are my own work (that on the north side was installed in March 2021, whilst work is ongoing on the second window with a view to installing it in the near future).
Lower Gornal church is not usually open outside of services, but they have bravely continued to hold them on Thursdays and Sundays throughout much of the current crisis
More details and photos can be found on the Worcestershire & Dudley Historic Churches site below:-
www.worcesteranddudleyhistoricchurches.org.uk/index.php?p...
Tags: Lower Gornal church West Midlands Black Country
© All Rights Reserved
St James's church in the Black Country settlement of Lower Gornal began life in the early 19th century, the oldest parts being the nave and west tower which were built in 1817 by architect Thomas Lee. There was further modification done later in the century culminating in the rebuilding of the chancel in 1889 which gave us the polygonal apse we see today. The churchyard is a haven of peace filled with trees that surround and shelter the church from the surburban environment around it.
The interior betrays the different phases of construction with its two halves, the pre-Victorian nave being quite light, open and spacious whilst possessing something of a pre-ecclesiological austerity in its detail. The later chancel beyond is a darker, more mysterious space, lit by the four windows of the apse (a fifth, actually the central east window, is completely concealed by the tall wooden reredos).
There is some notable glass in the church, one of the apse windows being an early work by Sir Ninian Comper, whilst the easternmost windows on each side of the nave contain charming late Arts & Crafts glass by Florence Camm. The west window under the tower (in the area currently used as the baptistry) also has a fine window in a more contemporary spirit by Hardman's, however the latest windows here are the two westernmost windows of the apse which are my own work (that on the north side was installed in March 2021, whilst work is ongoing on the second window with a view to installing it in the near future).
Lower Gornal church is not usually open outside of services, but they have bravely continued to hold them on Thursdays and Sundays throughout much of the current crisis
More details and photos can be found on the Worcestershire & Dudley Historic Churches site below:-
www.worcesteranddudleyhistoricchurches.org.uk/index.php?p...
Uploaded originally for the 'Guess Where UK?' Group.
Tags: Guess Where UK GWUK Lower Gornal church interior West Midlands
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