St James's Church, Kingston (Isle of Purbeck)
| St James' Church, Kingston, Isle of Purbeck | |
|---|---|
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St James' Church, Kingston | |
| 50°36′57″N 2°03′51″W / 50.6157°N 2.0642°WCoordinates: 50°36′57″N 2°03′51″W / 50.6157°N 2.0642°W | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Salisbury |
| Province | Canterbury |
| Clergy | |
| Vicar(s) | Revd. Gaynor Burrett |
The Church of St James is a large church, situated in Kingston on the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset.
History
St James was not the first church in Kingston. The first one, designed by George Repton is now a private dwelling. However, the building that stands today was first thought of in the 1870s when the 3rd Lord Eldon thought the first one was unsatisfactory and commissioned G. E. Street to design one. The church cost £70,000, a huge amount of money. What Street designed was a Gothic Marvel with its tall Central Tower becoming a local landmark.
The church is designed in the Gothic Revival style, common at the time. The church is now known as 'The Cathedral of the Purbecks' and is still a local landmark today.[1] English Heritage have designated it a Grade I listed building.[2]
Bells
The tall Central Tower, which rises two stories above the roof of the church, contains a peal of 10 bells. The bells were originally a peal of 8, all cast in 1878 by John Taylor & Co but the Treble and Tenor were recast in 1920 by the same people. In 2000, two trebles were added by the same people to make the peal of 10. Ringers come from all over to ring of the bells as the church is famous for the bells' beautiful sound. The Tenor weighs 26cwt 3qrs and 16 lbs or 1366 kg and strikes the note D.[3]