Church History

Introduction
Were you able to go back in time and look at the church when it was completed in 1533, it would not look so very different to the church you see now. Many churches are a combination of various additions dating over hundreds of years, often based on a Saxon or Norman footprint. A tower extension here, a porch added there, stones and brick of different sizes and finishes, all tell a tale of change. St James' however, is very little changed externally. Although the aisles were widened in the 19th century, the church has a look of unity and completeness as the extensions used the original stone. 
Inside the church is a different story. During the Victorian period, many churches in England were 'refurbished' and in many ways the whole accent of the church was changed. Such were the changes at St James'. We are left with some wonderful stained glass in the Gothic aisle windows that replaced the smaller, rectangular, medieval ones. 
Of course the churchyard would have looked a lot different. Fewer graves and smaller trees and the village would have not been the bustling, busy village that Barton has become, but a quiet backwater with a core of buildings around the Main Street area. 

St James' Church was originally called St Mary Magdalene Church. St Mary was considered a Catholic Saint and during the reign of Henry VIII there was a reaction against Catholicism by the state and people such as Martin Luther who was responsible for the developments of Protestantism. This meant that a Catholic Saint was not considered appropriate. As the feast day of St Mary Magdalene is 22nd July and St James' is just three days later on 25th July it is possible that this is why St James' was chosen as the new name. 

When his career reached its peak, John Taylor decided to build a new church to replace the ancient chapelry, which existed in Barton. St James' is thought to be near the site of John Taylor's parent's cottage. Building work started in 1517, and was finished and believed to be dedicated in 1533 having taken only 16 years to build. It is built of stone with embattled parapets and is surrounded on all sides by a well kept churchyard and is in the perpendicular style.

The church exterior is very much as it would have looked when it was first built. However, in 1860 the side aisles were widened and the gallery was removed to provide more seating and the windows were replaced by the present large Victorian Gothic windows. 

In 1864 the box pews were replaced by the present seating, a new chancel arch was built and a new pulpit installed. Barton became a parish in its own right in 1881 as it had been a Chapel of Ease, or satellite, to its mother parish of Tatenhill up until then. 

In 1885 there were major changes to the chancel and sanctuary. The Tudor panelling was removed, the floor re-tiled and the altar reredos, choir stalls and organ were all added. 

The external stone-work was restored between 1986 and 1992. Work has continued on the church with the removal of some pews to make a meeting area and the repainting of the clock faces. The graveyard has also been extensively renovated and catalogued.