Description

In the entry for;
LEICESTER LONDON ROAD
SK 60 SW
18/310A Church of St James
the Greater
II
the grade shall be amended to read; II* (star)

------------------------------------

LONDON ROAD
1.
5304
Church of St James
SK 60 SW 18/310A the Greater
II
2.
Parish church. 1895 - 1901, west front 1911-14. Designed by H L Goddard of
Leicester. Brick with ashlar dressings and a Swithland slate roof. Basilica
plan, with semi-circular eastern apse. West front has central projecting
section, with ashlar base with moulded plinth and rusticated quoins, flanked
by ashlar round stair turrets, topped with balustrades. The upper floor has a
large round headed window with a moulded arch and imposts, and flanking
Corinthian columns supporting an open and broken pediment containing an urn
supported on the bracketed keystone. Above a round headed ashlar niche, with
flanking composite columns supporting an open segmental pediment, topped by a
cross and a cherub's head. This section is topped by an ashlar open pediment,
supported on a swagged frieze. Either side are doorways on the ground floor,
with double doors and fanlights, within semi-circular headed ashlar door
surrounds with moulded arches and imposts. Each is flanked by fluted
Corinthian columns supporting an entablature with bucranium and cherub frieze.
Above brick towers with angle pilaster buttresses, and a single tall round
headed window with an ashlar cherub keystone, each surmounted by an
entablature with pulvinated frieze. Above single square culopas with angle
pilaster buttresses supporting an entablature with between round arched bell
openings, topped with shallow ashlar domes with a circular dormer to each face
topped with an open segmental pediment. (A tall central campanile was
designed to complete this front, but it was never built.) INTERIOR. 8 bay
nave, with narrow side aisle, 3 bay choir with Morning Chapel to south. The
nave has 7 Matlock sandstone columns to each arcade, on ashlar bases with
ornate terracotta capitals, each individually moulded. The round arches and
the rood pilasters are lined with terracotta, the choir has similarly
decorated arches, and the semi-circular apse has flanking marble columns with
large ornate terracotta capitals. The apse is lit by 5 small round headed
windows with terracotta figures of the apostles between, below are frescoes
painted in c1935 by the architect's daughter, Miss Diana Goddard, and above
the vault is painted with constellations. The reredos was also added c.1935.
The walls of the aisles are decorated with blind arches each containing an
oval window with figurative terracotta surround, and terracotta corbels
between which support the roof which is panelled with a central barrel vault.
The choir is raised above the rest of the church with a glazed terracotta
balustrade with angel balusters. The pulpit is supported on glazed
terracotta columns and smothered in similar decoration.

SOURCES
"The Building of St James the Greater, Leicester" by Alan McWhirr. Trans of
the Leics Archeological and Historical Society Vol. LX 1988

Listing NGR: SK6002503300

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Church of St James the Greater at Wikipedia
• Church of St James the Greater official website
• Wikidata Q17553763

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
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