21. STELLA PLOWMAN BRASS

On the wall near the organ is a special memorial plaque for Stella Plowman. This lady had an incredible record for serving the Church: 65 years as organist, 45 years as Guild Secretary, 30+ years teaching Sunday School, as well as being a faithful worshipper and communicant.    INDEX

22. WEST WALL BANNER

A Church Banner hangs on the North side of the West wall. It carries a picture of the Church and the text, ‘St James * Blakiston’.

23. PASCHAL CANDLE AND FONT

Also in the Northwest corner of the Church stands a Paschal candle and font. The candle is usually lit at Easter and special occasions, to represent Jesus as The Light of the World. The baptismal font is placed near the entry to the Church. This is because the rite of baptism signifies the entry into life in Christ, and membership of the Church community. The brass plate at the foot of the font reads: ‘This font of local stone was made and presented to St James Church Blakiston by its first incumbent The Rev James Follitt 1845 – 1847.’

24. PULPIT

The Church pulpit stands in the Northeastern corner. It is from here that the Gospel message is proclaimed on a Sunday. Behind the pulpit is a fake door! – added to balance the vestry door on the South side.

25. LECTERN AND GOWER BRASS

There is a lectern in the Southeastern corner. It is from here that the Scripture is read. There is a real door behind it! The brass plate on the wall remembers Rector John William Gower who served the Church for 27 years, and his wife Elizabeth Anne who lived to be 96. She was the daughter of founder Francis Davison for whom the box pew now at the back of the Church was originally built.

26. TO THE SANCTUARY

Before we turn our attention to the sanctuary itself, we note that there are three memorial plaques on the East wall, and a processional cross to the left.

27. MEMORIAL PLAQUES

These plaques commemorate the lives of Francis Davison and his wife Elizabeth, along with John Rundle Toll and his wife Charlotte Sophia. John Toll was a Church warden who came to an unfortunate end after a Sunday service. Captain Francis Davison settled at Blakiston in 1840 in a prefabricated house shipped from London. When Mrs Davison arrived in March 1840 a brick house was already erected and set up. (Brick production began at Littlehampton using local clay in 1847 and houses were using bricks by 1850 as a building material.) Captain Davison named the town after his former home in County Durham. By 1848 the Davison family had built a stone house which they kept until the 1860s. The Davison family then settled across several SA districts.

28. PROCESSIONAL CROSS

The processional cross is used to lead into a service any procession of clergy and others officiating.

29. KNEELER

This kneeler is apparently one of many in the Church, but only this one was on display. We notice the sword and scallop shell, referring to St James the Greater.

30. SANCTUARY

At the East end of the nave there is a small extended sanctuary space. This houses a small altar with kneeling rails at front for receiving the Eucharist Elements. On tha north side a small shelf supports a platten, and on the South side hangs a scallop shell (James the Greater again). Behind the altar is an attractive stained glass window – the only one in this Church.

31. ALTAR

The green altar frontal has a leafy design, which might represent a grape vine, but looks more like holly. Al centre is a version of the Celtic cross, with a circular disc behind the crossing. Four candlesticks and an altar bookstand supporting a Bible lie on top of the altar.

32. PLATTEN AND CRUCIFIX

The platten is an attractive copper plate with the text ‘Lord accept both gift and giver’ embossed around the edge. This suggests it may be used as an offering plate, but these days most churches use containers which give more privacy. A crucifix stands at the base of the East window. It has a small memorial plate near its base.

33. EAST WINDOW

The colourful two-lancet East window is simple and effective. At left is St James, and at right is Jesus, the Good Shepherd. The window is very appropriate for this Church, and it certainly appears that James was close to Jesus – Peter, James and John are regarded as Christ’s three closest disciples. It is harder to find any special significance of James being associated with Jesus as ‘the Good Shepherd’. This concludes our investigation of St James’ Church.