The style adopted is that of the Decorated Gothic of the 19th Century and the building comprises a nave of four bays, with a chancel, a south aisle and transept, the latter serving as a vestry and organ chamber. There is a north porch, with belfry and spire above it.
The principal items to note are the porch, tower and spire, which were the gift of Mr Baker, in memory of his wife Mary (Noel) who died just before the church was opened. The tower contains a clock and three bells.
The alabaster reredos behind the altar, with symbols of the four evangelists and the Resurrection window above it, both memorials of Mary Baker, given by her friends.
The oak chancel screen, erected in memory of Henrietta Hicks-
Other memorials include the Faith and Hope window by the pulpit commemorating the
life and work of the priest-
In the north wall is a Guardian Angel window commemorating Charles Sartoris, a former
lord of the manor of Wilcote, while close by, four tablets recall the name of the
Wynter family, residents of The Hays, and record the death within the brief space
of eighteen months of first the father, then in battle the two sons -
An adjoining window, of Christ blessing the children, commemorates William Howes, one time a church warden and for many years the village blacksmith. In the small window preserves the memory of James Hicks, for many years the Parish Clerk.
In the chancel, an inscription incised in the north wall commemorates the men of
Ramsden who fell during the Great War of 1914-
The Communion Plate, consigned to safe-
The Crucifix against the reredos is a Victorian adaptation of an 18th century candlestick. It is silver plated brass and, it is thought, belonged once in Hereford Cathedral.
The register of Baptisms and Burials date from 1842 and of Marriages from 1853. The previous registers, from 1538 onwards are preserved at the County Records Office.
The Christian Gospel was first preached in these parts in the 7th Century AD by missionaries
from the churches in the North and Midlands. Amongst these, St Diuma, a Scottish
monk and first Bishop of the Mercians, died at nearby Charlbury, in about 658 AD
on one if his apostolic journeys. Churches were built very early there and at Shipton-
In Ramsden itself, from early times, there stood a Preaching Cross where the War Memorial now stands and thither the Holy Sacrament was brought by the priest from Shipton at the yearly processioning, another memorial of which remains in the ‘Gospel Oak’ on the Leafield road, where station was made for the reading of the Gospel on those days.
Recent Ministers
1842 Thomas Bell
1854 R M M Caunter
1858 George Carpenter
1860 R P Smith (July)
R L Baker (November)
1904 H R Hall
1930 P Twamley
1937 W P Hanks
1941 E M Young
1953 C R Brown
1956 J C S Nias
1984 E A Johnson
1993 B J Freeth
1999 J F Knowles
2010 P Mansell
The Church of St James was built in 1872, from designs of A W Blomfield, well known for his work in building and restoring churches, and in particular as the architect of the great nave at London’s Southwark Cathedral.
It stands on the site of an earlier church, which was built in 1842.
Prior to that date, the Parish Church was at Shipton-
The building owes its erection very largely to the untiring efforts of the Reverend Robert Lowbridge Baker and his generous liberality. He ministered in Ramsden for forty four years.
St James’ Church, Ramsden
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