St James, Heckmondwike with All Souls, Norristhorpe

St James is a Church of England Parish committed to serving the community of Heckmondwike

Church of St James II Commissioners' church in Early English style. 1830-1 by Peter Atkinson (Jnr.). New chancel and Lady Chapel added 1905. Dressed stone with ashlar dressings and buttresses. Slate roof. West tower with broach spire. 7-bay buttressed nave, 2 bay chancel and 3-bay later chancel. Steeply pitched south porch with similar baptistry to north. Plain lancets to nave and chancel. Paired arched windows to later chancel. 5-light untraceried, stained glass east window. 2-tier square tower with clasping and angle buttresses. Heavily moulded doorway on south side. West lancet window. Clock to 3 elevations. Bell chamber has triple group of arched, louvred openings to each elevation. Hexagonal, stone broach spire, ribbed and with gargoyles. Interior: Plain aisleless nave. Heavily moulded arch to original chancel on clustered colonnettes, with very steeply pointed flanking arches. New chancel has well carved organ case to left with 4 carved angels. To right is Lady Chapel with stained glass of 1907 and 1912, and well carved parclose screen. Colourful reredos with well carved panelling to each side and carved canopied figures of St Paul and St Aidan. To rear of nave is 1st World War Memorial of carved oak panels.