St James

The chancel was rebuilt, and a porch added, in 1589.

The priests' door has a Tudor head with sunk spandrels, and studded door with strap hinges.

The plain round C12 chancel arch is on moulded imposts, and flanked by lower and narrow squints, which have rubble-stone arches and are of uncertain date.

The chancel has a C16 trussed rafter roof.

The nave floor is laid with reclaimed medieval tiles and some re-used ledger stones, which are now illegible except for one dated 1800.

The chancel floor is laid with C19 tiles and re-used ledger stones, ranging in date from 1688 to 1743.

In the centre of the chancel floor are 4 further ledger stones in situ, commemorating members of the Mytton family from the period 1694 to 1756.

PRINCIPAL FIXTURES: The plain tub font is lead-lined and C12, and stands on a C19 octagonal base and plinth.

The polygonal wooden pulpit is probably late C17, and probably contemporary with a reading desk that has similar but simpler panelled decoration.

Choir stalls of similar date have plain ends with carved poppy heads, and simple panelled backs.

In the south wall is a painted Royal Arms of George IV or William IV that was formerly fixed to the gallery.

There are several memorial tablets, but the earliest memorial is a painted armorial board to Mary Mitton in the chancel south wall.

A hatchment in the north nave wall is to Thomas More , whose memorial tablet is beside it.

The chancel has 4 neo-classical marble wall tablets to members of the Mytton family of Shipton Hall Dodson also made the Gothic wall tablet in the chancel south wall to Thomas Mytton In the east window is a fragment of stained glass showing badges of Elizabeth I that was an integral part of the 1589 rebuilding.

HISTORY: Shipton church is first mentioned c1110, and was probably a small 2-celled church until the tower was added at some time in the medieval period, and which contained 3 bells by 1552.

The chancel was described as a 'great ruin' in 1553 and was replaced and rebuilt at the expense of John Lutwyche of Shipton Hall in 1589, as recorded on a brass memorial plaque in the chancel.

The C18 gallery and C17 pews were removed in 1905-6 when a major re-ordering took place, at which time the walls were stripped of plaster and the present pews were installed.

St James' Parish Church, Shipton: Information for visitors REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: The church of St James, Shipton, is listed at Grade II* for the following principal reasons: * Rare and well-preserved chancel and porch in the Gothic-survival style of the late C16. * Early medieval fabric, including C12 chancel arch. * Fixtures of special historical interest, including C12 font, C17 pulpit and C18 wall monuments.