St James' Church, Glossop

St James’ Church stands in the Derbyshire town of Glossop, an Anglican place of worship in the evangelical tradition. The building was designed by Edwin Hugh Shellard and completed in 1846 after the foundation stone was laid in 1844. A Grade II listed structure, it was enlarged in 1897 and again at the start of the 20th century. The churchyard holds war graves of three First World War soldiers and a memorial to Samuel Wood, a local mill-owner. The Forster and Andrews pipe organ, installed in 1859, remains in use today. The church is worth the journey for its fine Victorian architecture and its place in local history. The 1846 consecration by the Bishop of Lichfield marked its arrival as a centre of worship. Later enlargements show how the building adapted to the needs of its congregation. The war graves and memorial link the site to the early 20th century’s industrial and military past. The Grade II listing recognises the building’s architectural importance. Inside, visitors find a spacious nave and an enlarged chancel added in 1897. The Forster and Andrews organ, dating from 1859, stands at the west end. The Grade II listed memorial to Samuel Wood can be seen in the churchyard. War graves of three soldiers from the First World War lie among the gravestones. The church’s simple evangelical style and its place in Whitfield Parish give it a quiet dignity.