St James' Church
St James’ Church Elstead is believed to have been founded by the Monks of Waverley Abbey in about the year 1138 and parts of the church building date back to the 12th century.
Step inside this wonderful old building and you will be on holy ground where people have worshipped God and witnessed to his love for nearly 900 years.
A church has stood on this site since 1138. The earliest structure was constructed by the monks of Waverley Abbey. The walls on the north and west sides of the nave and the north and east walls of the chancel date from these earliest times. Some of the timber structure which holds up the belfry is also believed to date from this time, including the stairs up into the belfry which are made from one huge oak tree. When the monks built the church, they used rocks and stones that they found locally and made rubble-stone walls which they plastered with lime both inside and outside.
If you look under the pulpit you can see a small section of the original rubble-stone walls. There is one very old window dating from the time when the church was first built. Can you find it?
Living Lord, we thank you that we are part of a Christian community that has worshipped you here since 1138. We thank you for the witness of all those who have gone before us and pray for your power to help us to pass the Good News of Jesus’ love to all those around.
Porch
The porch that you have just walked through was built in the 14th century. The oak beams and the arch over the entrance are all original. The oak doorframe dates from the 15th century and was made from a single oak tree which was cut in half and shaped. A new frame had to be made for the glass door which was fitted in 2009, but you can still see the timber of the original doorframe. Can you see the scallop shells etched onto the glass door. These are the ancient symbols for St James, to whom the church is dedicated.
Outside, look for the little round-headed door on the north wall of the chancel. This door is called a “priest’s door” and gave the priest access to the chancel to take services. It was blocked up on the inside in the 19th century.
Lord Jesus, you stand at the door to my life and knock. Today is a new day of my life: come, Jesus and open the door.
Font
The font at the back of the church was given to St James’ in 1845 by Bishop Sumner when Elstead was part of the Diocese of Winchester. Elstead is now in the Diocese of Guildford which was formed out of Winchester Diocese in 1927.
The font is used for baptisms. Baptism offers individuals an opportunity to make their own commitment for Christ and to become a member of the world-wide Christian church. When infants or babies are baptised, parents and godparents make a commitment to start a child on their journey of faith until they are old enough to make a commitment for themselves.
Faithful and loving God, I pray for all those who have been baptised here in Elstead. I pray for their parents and godparents that they will nurture them in the faith of Christ so that in their lives may be a faithful witness to you.
Nave
The nave roof is a particularly fine example of a 15th century roof. The timbers of the roof, including the tie-beams and the beautiful king-posts which support the roof, all date from the 15th century.
Look for the notches at the eastern end of the nave where the rood screen used to be. This screen separated the chancel from the rest of the church in medieval times.
Outside, look for the little round-headed door on the north wall of the chancel. This door is called a ‘priest’s door’ and gave the priest access to the chancel to take services. It was blocked up on the inside in the 19th century.
Lord Jesus, thank you for the protection and security that the roof of my home gives me. Help me to put my trust in you so that I will be safe and secure from today onwards.
The east window
The east window was inserted in the 16th century as was the window nearest the pulpit. Most of the stained glass in the church dates from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Look for some fragments of medieval glass in the window by the pulpit. The colours are much more delicate than the Victorian glass elsewhere in the church. There were glassmakers in this part of Surrey in medieval times and this glass may have come from a glass works in a nearby village. These medieval glass windows were probably destroyed during the Civil War when Parliamentarian troops were stationed at the Mill.
Lord Jesus, as the light shines through these windows gives light into the church, may the light of your love shine through into my life.
Organ
Before the south aisle was built there was no organ. Instead music was provided by members of the congregation who brought along their own instruments like flutes, recorders or fiddles. In St James’ they may have played in the gallery at the western end of the church. This gallery was built in about 1700 and was removed in 1872. The gallery was lit by two small dormer windows. You can see the position of one of these windows if you look up above the font and to the left.
When the south aisle and vestry were built in 1872, the organ was situated in what is now the vestry and was only moved to its present position in the 1940s.
Lord Jesus we thank you for the beauty of music. We thank you for those who can play instruments and help us to worship you with songs and hymns and psalms.
Lectern and Pulpit
Lord, help me to read your word and understand what you want for me.
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his heaven!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his exceeding greatness!
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet;
praise him with the lute and harp!
Praise him with the tambourine and dance;
praise him with the strings and flute!
Praise him with the sound of the cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.
Communion Table
Lord, by your death and resurrection you have promised us eternal life. Thank you for accepting me, forgiving me and welcoming me at your table.
We hope that you have enjoyed your walk around our ancient church and we hope that you have managed to spend a few moments in prayer with God. The Christian faith proclaims that God came down to earth as a human being in the form of Jesus Christ. Because of this, God knows what it is like to feel sadness, hurt, disappointment and pain. He also knows what it is like to feel happy and what it is like to have good friends. Share your good times and your sad times with God: he will understand because he has been there!
God loves and accepts each one of us because of who we are. His death and resurrection mean that all the barriers which separate us from God are broken down.
Loved, accepted, forgiven: thank you Lord! Make me your own and keep me safe.
