Church of St James

The Church of St James the Great stands in the town of Darlington, County Durham. It was designed in 1873 by local architects Ross and Lamb and built as a plain cruciform church without aisles. The foundation stone was laid by the mayor H.F. Pease in 1875 and the building was finished by local contractors Simpson and Cowling, R.T. Smith, Pattison and Son, and R. Smith. The Bishop of Durham consecrated the church in 1876. The church is worth visiting for its craftsmanship and local history. All the builders and craftsmen were Darlington firms, including the masonry, joinery, slating, plumbing and glazing. The interior once housed a pipe organ installed in 1900 by Lewis and Co, later moved to another church. The building itself is Grade II listed, recognised in 1952 for its architectural importance. Inside, the church follows a traditional Catholic style within the Church of England. The nave is aisleless and the crossing gives the plan its cruciform shape. The walls and windows reflect the 19th-century design chosen by Ross and Lamb. The building remains a place of worship and a local landmark in Darlington.