** This cache is only accessible through the Church Yard **
St James' is a 12th century church in the lovley little village of Longborough which is named after the Long Barrow that the first settlers from around 5,000 years ago built.
12th Century - The Church of St James was constructed with a simple nave and chancel. The chancel arch, north and south doorways and the corbel table still survive to this day.
13th Century - The west tower was constructed in the Early English style, along with the south porch and stone benches.
14th Century - The chancel was refurbished in early Decorated style with a small east window. The splendid South Trancept, or chantry chapel, was constructed with rich ornamentation and four large traceried windows. Fragments of mediaeval stained glass survive in the heads of the two west windows. The stone tomb of an unknown knight lies here. The effigy lies in his armour with his head on a cushion supported by angels and his legs half crossed and resting on a lion.
The Font (now with a skillful Victorian restoration of the top) and the Sanctus bellcote were also contrusted.
15th Century - The present Nave windows were constructed in the Perpendicular style and eight speldid gargoyles were added to the tower. Remains of mediaevel floor tiles can still be seen around the base of the Victorian pulpit.
16th Century - The church was stripped of it's mediaeval furnishings. The mighty yew tree in the churchyard is probably of this century.
17th Century - The monument to Sir William Leigh, and his wife and children, was erected in the South transept.
18th Century - Two ovals of Flemish painted glass are added to the upper lights of the East window depicting the Presentation of Christ in the Temple and the Return of the Prodigal Son. The Parish Chest is dated 1715 and bears the names of the Churchwardens of the period.
19th Century - The North Transept, now known as the Sezincote Chapel, was built in the Perpendicular style to provide a private chapel for the Sezincote Estate. The church was extensively 'restored' with walls being stripped of plaster and the present Chancel arch provided. The tower and some of the windows were resffired and the present pews of red pine were provided. The pulpit is also Victorian.
20th Century - In the 1920s the poet John Betjeman, whilst staying at Sezincote House, paid tribute to the bells of Longborough:
"At six o'clock from Bourton-on-the-Hill
The bells rang out above the clumps of oak
A lighter peal from Longborough lingered on
Moreton-in-Marsh came echoing from the vale..."
** There is limited parking just outside the church, but there are plenty of side streets where you can find a parking spot.
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If you would like to add to the Church Micro series yourself then please look here
http://churchmicro.co.uk/
There is also a Church Micro Stats & Information page that can be found at
http://www.15ddv.me.uk/geo/cm/index.htm
There is a small prize for the FTF