Make this page my homepage
- Search using interactive map
- Complete list of churches
- Revealing royal arms
- Discover wallpaintings
- Using our churches
- Home
- Our churches
- Complete list of churches
- Cameley, Somerset (St James' Church)
Set in a fold of the Mendip hills, in the valley of the River Cam, St James’ is an unpretentious and delightful church. It escaped major restoration in Victorian times and remains an unspoilt gem.
This beautiful hillside landmark, with an impressive 15th-century tower built of warm red Mendip sandstone with a handsome parapet, assaults the senses and contrasts with the humbler local blue lias limestone of the rest of the church.
Inside you are immediately struck by the wallpaintings. Here, even the porch shows some traces of paint. The fabulous wallpaintings are from the 12th- to the 17th-centuries. Fragments that have been identified, including the fine early 17th-century Ten Commandments over the chancel arch, framed in twining leaves with enchanting cherubs’ faces peering out.
The interior has a warm and appealing atmosphere; its features and fittings are a delightful mixture of periods. The nave walls lean slightly outwards, betraying their great age, and the flagstone floor slopes gently downhill.
There are Medieval benches as well as Georgian pews, an early 17th-century pulpit, a west gallery dating from 1711, and a south gallery from 1819 inscribed in handsome lettering 'for the free use of the inhabitants’. Along the walls of the nave are rows of 18th-century hat pegs for gentlemen to hang their hats.
Poet John Betjeman described St James’ as 'Rip Van Winkle’s Church’ – asleep for centuries and virtually untouched.
Discover more about wallpaintings in this church
To locate this church on a map, click on the 'View on map' link that appears below the address information at the top of the page.
10 miles north east of Wells, off A37 (1 mile west from Temple Cloud) and 6 miles north west of Midsomer Norton.
Nearest railway station: Keynsham (7.6 miles), Bristol Temple Meads (9.2 miles)
ST 610 576
01/05/12
Following on from the success of our Discover Wallpaintings project last year we are delighted to announce the launch of…
Church of St Thomas a Becket, Pensford, Somerset
A handsome 14th-century tower
Church of The Blessed Virgin Mary, Emborough, Somerset
An elegant church on a Mendip ridge
The Bishops Palace, Wells
Heritage site
Temple Church
The 'leaning tower' and walls of this large late medieval church survived bombing during the Second World War. The graveyard is now a peaceful public garden.
Last year, we welcomed over two million visitors to our churches. If each person donated just £2, this would enable us to keep our churches open, safe and watertight for you and future generations to enjoy.
Text code 'OCCT05' to 70070 to donate now (free from all networks).
Or use the button below to donate online.
Last year, we welcomed over two million visitors to our churches. If each person donated just £2, this would enable us to keep our churches open, safe and watertight for you and future generations to enjoy.
Text code 'OCCT05' to 70070 to donate now (free from all networks).
Or use the button below to donate online.
Click on images to view larger
The CCT is grateful to the Flickr group, Friends of the Churches Conservation Trust, for the images shown here. CCT is not responsible for the quality or content of images taken from Flickr.
Last year, we welcomed over two million visitors to our churches. If each person donated just £2, this would enable us to keep our churches open, safe and watertight for you and future generations to enjoy.
Text code 'OCCT05' to 70070 to donate now (free from all networks).
Or use the button below to donate online.
Why not make your visit more enjoyable and informed by finding out more about this church and the CCT before you visit?
You can download a range of publications below including the relevant county guide, and any walk round guides we have for this church.
Somerset County Guide (PDF, 4.7mb)
This free of charge short guide contains details of all the churches CCT cares for in Somerset. Printed copies of the county guide are also available at the church.
Church of St Thomas a Becket, Pensford, Somerset
A handsome 14th-century tower
Old Road, Pensford, Bristol, Somerset, BS39 4AL
See church page
Church of The Blessed Virgin Mary, Emborough, Somerset
An elegant church on a Mendip ridge
Chapel Hill, Emborough, Wells, Somerset, BA3 4SG
See church page
St Andrew's Church, Holcombe, Somerset
In the shadow of the great Abbey of Downside
Holcombe, Radstock, Somerset, BA3 5ES
See church page
Temple Church The 'leaning tower' and walls of this large late medieval church survived bombing during the Second World War. The graveyard is now a peaceful public garden. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/temple-church
Last year, we welcomed over two million visitors to our churches. If each person donated just £2, this would enable us to keep our churches open, safe and watertight for you and future generations to enjoy.
Text code 'OCCT05' to 70070 to donate now (free from all networks).
Or use the button below to donate online.
Last year, we welcomed over two million visitors to our churches. If each person donated just £2, this would enable us to keep our churches open, safe and watertight for you and future generations to enjoy.
Text code 'OCCT05' to 70070 to donate now (free from all networks).
Or use the button below to donate online.
All our Somerset churches are in CCT’s West region.
Contact: Ronald Bradley
Telephone: 01761 452 353
Visit Somerset tourism website
Somerset & Dorset Family History website
Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society
Friends of Somerset Churches & Chapels
Last year, we welcomed over two million visitors to our churches. If each person donated just £2, this would enable us to keep our churches open, safe and watertight for you and future generations to enjoy.
Text code 'OCCT05' to 70070 to donate now (free from all networks).
Or use the button below to donate online.
If the access information for this church is listed as ‘Keyholder nearby’, this means that the key is kept by one of our invaluable volunteer 'keyholders', who usually live just a short walk from the church and can give visitors the key; sometimes this is a nearby hotel, pub, library, art gallery or other venue. You will find instructions explaining how to get the key when you arrive at the church.
There are three deep steps down into the church.
Due to the historic nature of our buildings, only a very small number of them have heating or running water meaning that they can be cold, and very rarely have toilet facilities. The lighting is usually operated via a 'push button' timer or a motion sensor. We do apologise for any inconvenience the lack of facilities may cause.
Hiring our churches
FAQs
Job vacancies
Useful links
Latest news
Website feedback
Terms of Use
Privacy, Cookies & Security
Accessibility
Sitemap
Write to us:
Society Building, 8 All Saints Street
London N1 9RL
Give us a call:
0845 303 2760 (9.00am - 5.00pm Monday to Friday)
Email us:
central@thecct.org.uk
Help us conserve over 340 historic churches across England.
Your donations
Donate just £2 a month
Your time
Become a volunteer
Your support
Become a Supporter of CCT
© The Churches Conservation Trust 2013 / Registered Charity Number 258612
CMS: New Brand Vision | Website design: designbystructure Ltd
Watch our videos on Vimeo
My Grandfather Pilgrim was buried in this churchyard about 50 years ago. I haven't been there for a very long time ago but I still remember him and the church......
I have very recently visited this absolute gem. Parking was a tiny problem but it was so worth the effort of a short walk. The inside was like a going into a timewarp and so beautifully maintained. You felt that you could see the life of the people that went there and the different stages of its evolution but so magically unspoilt. This is one of the best preserved churches I have visited and I give my congratulations to the Trust.