To spot St James the Great, look for a majestic stone church with a tall square tower topped with battlements and a clock, Gothic arched windows, and a welcoming arched doorway right behind a small green garden above the street.
As you stand before St James the Great, imagine the air thick with the sounds of medieval Colchester, where horses’ hooves clattered on cobbles and townsfolk whispered stories of saints and miracles. This grand old church has watched over the street since the 13th century, which is long enough to collect a few interesting secrets-and probably a ghost or two, though they seem to keep mostly to themselves! Its flint-studded walls and soaring windows would have sparkled in the sunlight as bakers, merchants, and even the odd knight passed by. If you listen closely, you might almost hear the echo of old prayers and the gentle humming of hymns, drifting out from under that tall, sturdy tower.
Over time, the church was restored-perhaps with the smell of fresh timber and the clatter of scaffolding-by a chap named Teulon, who gave it a new lease on life in the 1870s. Even today, St James the Great keeps some traditions close to its chest, like its love for the old ways of the Church and its connection with bishops who specialize in sticking to the classics. And don’t forget: once, the future Bishop of Tewkesbury, Robert Springett, learned his first tricks of the trade right here. So when you gaze up at those ancient stones, remember: you’re not just looking at a building, you’re looking at hundreds of years of faith, friendship, and just maybe-one or two stubborn spirits!
