St James, Clanfield

Clanfield was at one time a typical old English village; it is said one of the most picturesque in Hampshire. It was one of the 5 manors of Earl Godwin, and after the conquest was given to Roger Montgomery who led the vanguard at the Battle of Hastings.

The Font		The Altar showing the decorated walls

The old church must have been built in the 14th century. A watercolour hangs on the north wall painted by the Revd Westall, presumably from old prints or drawings. A list of Rectors also hangs on the north wall and it can be seen that the first was one John de Clanfield in 1305. This is probably the date of the original church. In 1767 the Parsonage House was burnt to the ground,
however it was in 1878 that Clanfield suffered a worse loss when the old church was pulled down and replaced by the present one at a cost of £1466-6s-od.

The present church was built on the foundations of the old one and many of the old tombstones have been preserved in the chancel. Both the bells and the font are medieval and survive from the old church, as does the west window, which originally was at the eastern end of the old building.

Since the 1940's much has changed in the present church. A carpet has been laid, a new heating, lighting and sound system installed, kneelers have been embroidered by members of the congregation and the organs (the present one installed in the late 1980's) have moved backwards and forwards from chancel to
nave.

St James remains a listed building.

Major structural repairs were made to the roof timbers in 1993/94 but St. James is a typical Victorian church built from local flint and stone from Purbeck. Gone is the early 14th century church serving a small farming community, replaced by a Church of many characteristics serving growing community in the 21st century.

(Text taken from "Welcome to St Jame's Church, by the Revd.Gill Hill, Rector)