Church of St James the Less, Tatham

The Church of St James the Less stands in the quiet village of Tatham, Lancashire, above the flood plain of the River Wenning. Built mainly in the 15th century, it keeps older stones from the Norman and 13th centuries. The tower was rebuilt in 1722 and later given a saddleback roof by Lancaster architects Paley and Austin during a major restoration in the 1880s. The church is made of sandstone rubble with a stone slate roof and has a nave, north aisle, south porch, chancel, vestry and organ chamber. Inside, a three-bay arcade of pointed arches on octagonal piers divides the nave from the aisle. The chancel floor holds a medieval grave-cover, and the triple sedilia and piscina have trefoil heads. The octagonal sandstone font is carved, and the stained glass includes work by Burlison and Grylls from the late 19th century. A window also shows grisaille glass with the arms of the Duke of Lancaster from the 14th to 15th centuries. The church contains brasses from the 17th century and the painted royal arms of George II. The churchyard holds the war grave of a sailor from the Royal Naval Patrol Service who died in the Second World War. The exterior shows Perpendicular tracery in its windows and a Norman inner porch doorway that has been much restored. The organ chamber has a gabled roof and a three-light window, while the vestry has a two-light window with Y-tracery. The east window has three lights with intersecting tracery, giving the interior a calm and reflective light.