Country Churches

92. St James Wield

It needs good map reading to find this remote 12th century Norman church in the heart of the country north east of Alresford. Standing alongside a 17th century box-framed cottage it is a plain building of roughcast flint with stone dressings topped by a small wood boarded bellcote topped by a gold cock weathervane.

The Norman south doorway has one order of columns with carved capitals. The interior with its red and yellow floor tiles, white boarded roof with red, black and white decorations has a red painted small gallery at the west end. There are remains of medieval wall paintings on the north wall of the nave. They are faded and fragmented, though traces of the Ten Commandments can be seen as well as two Consecration Crosses c.1150. Over the chancel arch are the faded Royal Arms of Queen Anne. All the windows are of plain glass.

Two large squints can be seen either side of the 5' 8" semi-circular chancel arch. There is a 12th century priest's door in the south wall of the chancel. The 12th century font of Purbeck marble with blank arcading around a square bowl was dug up from a garden in the Cathedral Close at Winchester.

The outstanding feature of the church is the magnificent early 17th century alabaster monument of William Waloppe and his third wife Margery against the south wall of the chancel. There he lies wearing a ruff with plate body armour and sword whilst his wife wears a farthingale, a long sleeved dress and a Paris head dress. William lived in the village and entertained Queen Elizabeth there in 1591. Twice Mayor of Southampton he became High Sheriff of Hampshire in 1599. The inscription on the monument lists his distinguished career in the royal service from the time of Henry VIII when he was Gentleman of the Privy Chamber. Later he became 'Admiral of a Navie and Captaine of 1000 adventurers against y French, served against y Moores for y Kinge of Portugal, General of the English at y siege of Landarcy, Ambassador to the King of Naples and the Emperor Charles V...' He had three wives but sadly 'dyed without issue' in his 84th year on 15 November 1617. A very remarkable man.

Opposite on the north wall is a small mural tablet to Margery Wallope's niece Barbara Willys. The sad inscription reveals that she 'died in childbedde' on 5 March 1617 leaving only her son Thomas born just a week earlier. A sad reminder of the dangers of childbirth 400 years ago.

A more modern touch is provided by four new pews at the back of the church all inscribed in memory of various parishioners and by a number of embroidered kneelers including two for the churchwardens. The rest of the furnishings including the pulpit, lectern and altar table all date from a rebuilding carried out in 1884-5.

John Symonds