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This page contains details of our church - to find out more
about either the tower or the bells, click on the relevant button below:
 
The
Parish Church of Saint James, Barton under Needwood was built by John
Taylor, Master of the Rolls to Henry VIII.
He was one of triplets born in Barton under Needwood who were shown
to Henry VII and who subsequently was responsible for their education.
The Tudor church was consecrated in 1533 and extended in the
1860’s. However apart from the extensions to the north and south aisles,
the church is almost as John Taylor built it in 1533. This shown in the
illustration of the Church from 1706 taken from the south east.
Entering the church through the
west door, you will see above the pillars in the nave, tablets bearing
references to the career of John Taylor alternating with the coat-of-arms
he adopted. The inscriptions begin on the
north
west
tablet are:
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I.
T. HORUM GEMELLORUM NATU MAXIMUS
I(ohn) T(aylor) of the triplets the eldest |
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DECRETORUM DOCTOR ET SACRORUM
CANONUM PROFESSOR
Doctor of decrees and professor of sacred Canons
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ARCHIDIANCONUS DEERBIE ET
BUCKKYNGHAM NEG NON ET
Archdeacon of
Derby
and Buckingham and also
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MAGISTER
ROTULORUM ILLUSTRISSIMI REGIS H VIII. AN: REGNI SUI 20
Master
of the Rolls of the illustrious King Henry VIII in the 20th
year of his reign
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The Chancel, the choir stalls were installed in
1877. Before this the
choir and the organ were located on the bellringing platform .
It must have a very busy place at Sunday services, with an organ, a
choir and bellringers.
The Sanctuary is in the form of a
three sided apse, an unusual shape. This
is rare in Tudor churches in Staffordshire.
Similar shaped apses can only be seen in Lichfield Cathedral and in
the ruins of Croxden Abbey in Staffordshire.
If you would like to visit our
beautiful Church you will be made most welcome at our Sunday services and
on Saturday morning from
10am
–12
noon
.
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