St James' Church, Great Packington

St James’ Church stands in the grounds of Packington Hall near Meriden in Warwickshire. Built in 1789 for the 4th Earl of Aylesford, it replaced the old parish church which had to be demolished after its steeple and fabric became unsafe. The Italian architect Joseph Bonomi designed the red-brick chapel in a neo-classical style with a square plan and four corner turrets topped by domes and finials. It was intended to mark the recovery of George III from insanity and contains one of the oldest sanctus bells in the county. Inside, the church features corner vaults and tunnel vaults, and the communion rail is made of white marble. A painting of the Christogram IHS surrounded by clouds, executed by John Francis Rigaud, fills the white marble altarpiece. The organ was built by Thomas Parker to Handel’s specifications for Charles Jennens, the librettist, and later came into the care of the Earls of Aylesford. The instrument has been recorded for the documentary The Elusive English Organ. Visitors find a calm space where the unusual square plan and domed turrets create a striking silhouette. The marble altarpiece and communion rail catch the light, while Rigaud’s painted sky above the altar draws the eye upward. The organ, once played by Handel’s contemporaries, remains in place and still sounds in recordings. The church’s Grade I listing recognises its architectural importance and the craftsmanship of its interior.