The steeple of this edifice being greatly decayed by age, a part of it fell down in the year 1623, upon which the parish contracted with a person to rebuild it; but the builder being desirous of getting as much as possible by the job, raised the new work upon the old foundation, and carried it on with the utmost expedition; but before it was entirely finished, it fell down, and destroyed part of the church, which were both soon after rebuilt, as they are at present.
This church is a very heavy structure, partly Gothic, which was the original form, and partly Tuscan. The body, though it has not the least appearance of elegance, is well enlightened, and the steeple consists of a low heavy tower crowned with a turret.
The church is a curacy in the gift of the parishioners.
St. James’s Duke’s Place, near Aldgate, is a very old church, it having escaped the great conflagration in 1666, that was destructive, to so many others, and still remains in its original form. The body is well enlightened, and the tower, which is composed of four stages, is terminated by a very singular kind of turret in the form of a canopy.
This church is a curacy, the patronage of which being in the Lord Mayor and Commonalty of London, the parish claims a right of exemption from the Bishop of London’s jurisdiction, in matters ecclesiastical. The Incumbent receives about 60l. a year by tithes, and 13l. a year from the Chamber of London. Maitland.
St. James’s Garlickhith, is situated at the east end of Garlic Hill, and is thus denominated from its dedication to St. James one of the apostles, and its vicinity to a garlic market anciently held in this neighbourhood. This church being destroyed by the fire of London, the foundation of the present edifice was laid in the year 1676, and the church was finished in 1682. Stow.
This church, which, as well as both the former, is built of stone, is well enlightened, and is seventy-five feet in length, and forty-five in breadth; the roof is forty feet high, and the steeple ninety-eight feet. The tower is divided into three stages; in the lowest is a very elegant door, with coupled columns of the Corinthian order: in the second stage is a pretty large window, and over it the form of a circular one not opened: over this, in the third story, is another window larger than any of the former, and the cornice above this supports a range of open work in the place of battlements, or a balustrade. From hence rises the turret, which is composed of four stages, and decorated with columns, scrolls, and other ornaments. The parts are all regular, and even elegant, but the whole is too massy. English Architecture.
This church is a rectory, the patronage of which is in the Bishop of London. The Rector receives 100l. per annum, in lieu of tithes.
St. James’s Westminster, by St. James’s square, is one of the churches that owes its rise to the increase of buildings and inhabitants; for the church of St. Martin’s in the Fields being too small for the inhabitants, and too remote from those in this quarter, the Earl of St. Alban’s, with other persons of distinction in that neighbourhood, erected this edifice at the expence of about 7000l. It was built in the reign of King Charles II. and tho’ a large fabric, was considered as a chapel of ease to St. Martin’s; but being consecrated in 1684, it was dedicated to St. James, in compliment to the name of the Duke of York, and the next year, when that Prince had ascended the throne, the district for which it was built, was by act of parliament separated from St. Martin’s, and made a distinct parish.
The walls are brick, supported by rustic quoins of stone; and the windows, which are large, are also cased with stone. The tower at the east end, rises regularly from the ground to a considerable height, and is crowned with a neat, well constructed spire.