This church is one I should have visited years ago when I was nearby at Combe but back then I was on a restricted timescale due to the car I had was only out on a test drive. This time I made the effort to visit as it is one of the churches listed in Oxfordshires Best Churches
"The Church of England parish church of St James the Great was built in the 13th century. Surviving Early English features from that period include the chancel arch, north chapel, south aisle, arcade and piscina and most of the west tower. Decorated Gothic remodelling in the 14th century includes the piscina and south windows of the chancel, the north window and west arch of the north chapel and the east window of the south aisle. The octagonal font is also 14th-century. In the 15th century the west tower was increased in height.
Between the chancel and north chapel is a screen that is partly Perpendicular Gothic. The Perpendicular Gothic east window in the chancel is 15th-century. Fragments of 15th-century stained glass survive in the window, including a figure that has a 14th-century head and may represent Saint Peter, and symbols of the evangelists St John and St Mark. In the west window of the west tower is late-15th-century stained glass of four family coats of arms. In one of the south windows of the chancel is 16th-century stained glass of two coats of arms: one of a manorial family and the other of the Worshipful Company of Mercers. There is also mid-16th-century stained glass of two family coats of arms in one of the 17th-century south windows of the clerestory. The Jacobean pulpit was made in 1629.
In 1743 a clock was installed in the church. It was said to have been made for a local manor house in 1543, and transferred to the church after the house was demolished. The clock has since been moved from Stonesfield, rebuilt, and installed at Judd's Garage at Wootton. In 1825 the north aisle was greatly enlarged, opening directly into the nave without an arcade. This greatly changed the interior of the church, and in the 20th century the architectural historians Jennifer Sherwood and Sir Nikolaus Pevsner condemned the change as "lunatic". Other 19th-century changes include the addition of the south porch, possibly during a restoration in 1876. The vestry was added in 1956. The church is a Grade II* listed building St James' parish is now part of the Benefice of Stonesfield with Combe Longa."
The north side with churchyard
West end view of the church
South west showing the tower and porch
Porch and the east end
South aisle and porch
East end with graves in the triangle between the paths
Path leading along the south of the church
Looking towards the west end of the churchyard
Which I found quite long
Peeking over to the north side of the churchyard
The west churchyard from the path
Then further along
Ex servicemen who have passed away and a Scout leader, one I have not come across before
Looking back to the church
North side churchyard looking west
Miss placed headstones leaning against the wall
Collage of headstones and graves
A name I recognize though I doubt they are related to the person I knew
The porch
Inside looking to the chancel arch
Inside the chancel
Altar and east window
Altar with candle holder and cross
The east window has some nice sections of medieval stained glass
Close up of the east window
Medieval center piece
The medieval glass at the top of the east window
Remaining screen between the chancel and north chapel
Collage of another window with medieval stained glass
Jacobean pulpit
View looking down on the nave
1629 now that is old it was when King Charles I was on the throne
View back to the west end
The west end under the tower
The west window with stained glass inserts
North aisle
Small pipe organ at the end
Into the north chapel
Altar and est window win the chapel
North window
Old pews over in the north aisle
This paining is in the north chapel
Banner of St James the Great
West end of the north aisle
Various carvings in the church
Looking towards the north aisle
South aisle altar and east window
Stained glass windows in the south aisle
South window with stained glass
Painted ceiling in the south aisle
I think this might have been a stoup
14th century font
Looking down the nave from the back of the church
Over to the north aisle
Various memorials in the church
Embroidery
A stone tile which is how Stonefield got it's name because the Romans used it on their houses
Prayer which I liked
