St James'
tower and, probably, the font, is all that remain from the pre-1200
building. From its size and rubble stone construction it was clearly
part of a not very grand church. Some time between 1147 and 1167 William
de Pinu, Lord of the Manor, and possibly the builder of this first
church, assigned it to the Priory of Dunstable in Bedfordshire which,
from then on, as corporate rectory of the church, appointed vicars
to serve it on their behalf. Within about 100 years all except the
tower was demolished and rebuilt on a larger scale, to the same dimensions
seen here in this photo.
The churchyard
has been closed for burials since the early 1900s, and a new burial
ground at Charlton was given in 1903 by T.L.M. Cartwright of Newbottle
Manor. It is connected to the church by a tarmac path, so that a bier
can be wheeled directly from church to graveside. It is also the direct
route to church for pedestrians from Charlton.
The churchyard
grass, which in early spring is a mass of first, snowdrops and then
daffodils, is kept short by being grazed by sheep, and the part behind
the church is mowed once a year as a nature reserve.
On the
porch there is a sundial dated 1764. It was restored and accurately
aligned in 1975 as a memorial to Mary Harper of Charlton.
