Our Church
The Overview
Literally... this beautiful image is courtesy of LukAzure.
Built on a low ridge below the medieval Wigmore Castle, the Church of St. James is still a significant landmark and has been for nigh on a thousand years.
There's a millennium of history wrapped up in the building and here we will try and provide more information on the aspects of the building and how it has changed over time.
The Churchyard
The near circular shape and design of the churchyard, on a ridgeline with a wall around it, suggests that the Saxon church could have been built on earlier foundations. The churchyard itself was closed for burials in 1901. While you are walking round the churchyard look out for an unusual iron grave marker with a Star of David and for the churchyard cross which has been restored many times over the years. On the west side of the cross there is a small niche which would have been used in pre-Reformation times to house the Host during Easter week.
If you walk around the outside of the church, the herringbone masonry of the late 11th century church is still visible. This is constructed from the local Silurian limestone. The name Silurian was given by the Victorian and gentleman geologist Roderick Murchison who visited the area.
The West Tower dated back to the mid-14th century and is 61 feet high. On the ground floor the sill of the window is a reused medieval stone altar which still has its consecration crosses on it. The tower houses six bells - five dated 1721 and the sixth recast in 1889. It also houses a wrought-iron side-by-side birdcage clock, circa - 1670-1790.
The South Aisle
The South Aisle was a 14th century chapel addition to the church, which was paid for and supported by John Lenthall, from Lenthall Starkes.
Richard Symonds, a trooper in the King's Army during the English Civil War, kept a diary of the places he visited. In 1645 he described Wigmore Church, writing: "East window, south yle church, very old and large:" and then went on to describe the arms in the window - all relating to the Mortimer family.
He also mentions a tombstone also in the same aisle as "having the figure of a man in armour inscribed on it, with three greyhounds which is described as being a "tomb of the Wigmores" with very old writing on it.
This tomb and the stained glass he described have long since disappeared, however the octagonal font standing near the entrance is likely to be contemporary with the building of the South Aisle, although the base is modern.
You'll see a small window above the font, which would have previously been on an outside wall to allow light into the Nave.
Several examples of early masonry, for example a stone mortar, can be found on the' floor of the church. Other important finds dating from this period have been sent to the British Museum.
The Chancel
To the right of the altar there is a double sedilia (stone seat), found on the south side of the altar to provide a place for the priest and his assistants to sit during services. The seating is modern but the stone arm between the seats dates to the 14th century.
Next to this is a piscina (a shallow bowl used for washing communion vessels in) set below a 1 4th century sunk panel with a trefoil ogee arch above. There are several piscinas around the church, including one half way up the wall on the south side of the nave. This would suggest that there was once an altar as part of the rood screen, which would have divided the chancel from the nave. This altar arrangement was a rare feature and only found in a few other collegiate churches.
The arrangement of the panelled choir stalls survives frorn the 1 7th century, forming a square around the altar. The stained glass windows on the North side (to the left as you face the altar) show the writers of the Gospels, Mark, Matthew, Luke and John. On the opposite side are other apostles: Thaddeus, Peter, James the Less (who the church is dedicated to) and Paul.
The Victorian floor tiles around the altar also commemorate the gospel writers, in four diamond shapes, two either side of the altar. These were made in Worcester.
The Pulpit
Rev. Alexander Clogie was vicar of Wigmore from 1647 1698.
He managed to remain Vicar, surviving through the turmoil of the English Civil War and the many changes, both religious and political, that occurred during the Commonwealth period, and in the Restoration when Charles Il came on the throne.
He died in 1698 and his tombstone lies behind the altar; the inscription reads; "Here lyeth, in hope of a glorious resurrection unto life eternal, the body ofthat holy, reverend, and learned divine, Mr Alexander Clogie, who
departed this life 24th Oct. 1698, aged 84, Minister of Wigmore 51 years.
He probably preached from the same decagonal pulpit you see today. It has seven linen-fold panelled sides and dates to the 16th century.
The Storr-Barber War Memorial
This memorial was sculpted by Leominster-based Quaker, William Storr-Barber, and commemorates the men of Wigmore who gave their lives in World War 1. It is somewhat unusual in that the soldier is housed indoors and is only half life-size. The Wigmore soldier wears a ‘Brodie’ (tin hat) helmet, which was not widely used before the summer of 1916. His webbing straps, with their ammunition pouches, are a quite precise representation of the equipment worn by soldiers in 1914-18. They are shown here in stripped down form known as ‘Musketry Order’ or ‘skeleton order’.
Storr-Barber’s men seem to be not in the first bloom of youth but somewhat more mature - heading towards middle age, rather than just out of their teens. They tend to be of average build, rather than tall or athletic; on the slight side, rather than muscular; ordinary rather than heroic.
The Wigmore soldier is characteristic of Storr-Barber’s portrayal in his memorials of an ‘ordinary bloke’ rather than of an heroic warrior.
