The Church has stood in its present position, in the centre of the Village, from around 1789. Prior to this there was a church building nearer the river Colne, which was prone to flooding. When the current church was built, it was constructed in the form of a large chapel style building.
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![St James Church](https://mses.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/eyeemfiltered1586340529513-768x1024.jpg)
The bell tower was added twenty years after the initial construction, and later Victorian builders added the present pews and a beautiful tiered gallery to seat the growing population from the surrounding towns. The church clock, on top of the impressive west tower, has a fully working Westminster chime. This sounds the hour, every quarter and every half hour.
Internally there is a very large, well lit, worship space with a beautiful balcony that gives us the capacity of seating 950 people. Behind the pews we have a cafe style area and kitchen; we are able to host wonderful feasts for the community – as well as occasionally hosting post Wedding receptions.
![St James' Church](https://mses.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/eyeemfiltered1586340949914-1-1024x576.jpg)
![St James wooden church mouse hidden away on a carved piece of wood](https://mses.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/eyeemfiltered1586340427147-2-1024x576.jpg)