Church Heritage Record 623291

Skip over navigation

Core DetailsLocationBuildingInteriorChurchyardSignificanceEnvironmentForumAudit

St James the Great: Friern Barnet

Name:

This is the church’s legal name as given by the Church Commissioners.

St James the Great: Friern Barnet
Record Type:

A classification of the current status of the building

Closed Church
Church code:

This is a unique identification number supplied to each church building by the Church Commissioners.

623291
Diocese:

Name of diocese in which the church building is located at the time of entry.

London
Archdeaconry:

Name of archdeaconry in which the church building is located at the time of entry

Hampstead
Parish:

This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.

Friern Barnet

Please enter a number

Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?

The decision to put a church building on the National Heritage List for England and assign it a listing grade is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision is normally based on recommendations made by Historic England, the government’s adviser on the historic environment.

This is a Grade II Listed Building
View more information about this Listed Building on the National Heritage List for England web site
Scheduled Monument?

The decision to schedule a feature (building, monument, archaeological remains, etc.) located within the church building’s precinct or churchyard is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision is based on recommendations made by Historic England, the government’s adviser on cultural heritage.

There is no Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

National Parks are areas of countryside that include villages and towns, which are protected because of their beautiful countryside, wildlife and cultural heritage. In England, National Parks are designated by Natural England, the government’s advisor on the natural environment.

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

Conservation areas are places of special architectural or historic interest where it is desirable to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of such areas. Conservation Areas are designated by the Local Council.

The church is not in a Conservation Area

Please enter a number

Heritage At Risk Status

On Heritage At Risk Register?

The Heritage at Risk programme is run and managed by Historic England, the government’s advisor on cultural heritage. It aims to protect and manage the historic environment, so that the number of ‘at risk’ historic places and sites across England are reduced.

This church is not on the Heritage at Risk Register
 **************

Approximate Date

Approximate Date:

Selecting a single date for the construction of a church building can sometimes be very difficult as most CoE buildings have seen many phases of development over time. The CHR allows you to record a time period rather than a specific date.

The CHR records the time period for the building’s predominant fabric as opposed to the date of the earliest fabric or the church’s foundation date.

Victorian/Pre-WWI

Exterior Image

Exterior image of 623291 St James the Great: Friern Barnet
Caption:

603242 

Exterior image of 623291 St James the Great: Friern Barnet
Description:

It seems to be the wrong photograph. Provided coordinates come up with another church on geograph.org.uk

View of south elevation and churchyard, part of a CBC report issued 16 Feb 2005
Year / Date:

2011, April 06

2004
Copyright:

Keltek Trust

Archbishops' Council
Originator:

Keltek Trust

Joesph Elders

Summary Description

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Old church built probably mid 12th c, certainly no later than 1199. Alterations in early 19th c to tower, vestry, walls mainly flint but chancel rebuilt in brick. At that time it had galleries inside. When the area expanded following the opening of the Great Northern Railway's New Southgate station in 1851 a larger church was needed and the current building of St John the Evangelist was designed by J L Pearson, architect of Truro Cathedral. St James was practically rebuilt probably on the old foundations 1853 by Habershon & Habershon. Apart from monuments, south doorway survives from Norman period, much restored, possibly foundations of south wall. Present Nave, Chancel & Tower are Victorian. Good glass. North extension in 1977, by John Phillips. The land here once belonged to the Abbot of St Albans which was then given to the Bishop of London by William the Conqueror, the Abbot thus deprived of his land joined Hereward the Wake's rebellion. In c1199 the manor was passed to the Order of St John of Jerusalem from where the name Friern comes, meaning belonging to the Brotherhood, but the Order was dissolved when Henry VIII gave his patronage to St Barnet to Sir Walter Raleigh who sold it to the Bacon family. The churchyard was the burial place of Thomas Cavendish, the son of Cardinal Wolsey's servant Charles Cavendish. Pleasant spreading churchyard. The drinking fountain across the road, erected c.1926, is on the site of an old well called Queen Elizabeth's Well and the old pound. It has now been established (May 2010) that the two organ cases of 1887 are by J.L.Pearson and that as a result the instrument has recently been awarded a Historic Organ Certificate (Grade - Certificate of Recognition) for the case (only).

Visiting and Facilities

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The church is open for worship.
Closed Church
 **************

Church Website

Church Website:

www.holytrinitylyonsdown.org.uk

Work in progress - can you help?

Sources and Further Information

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Joesph Elders (2004) Exterior image of 623291 St James the Great: Friern Barnet [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Exterior image of 623291 St James the Great: Friern Barnet
Joseph Elders (2001) Interior image of 623291 St James the Great: Friern Barnet [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Interior image of 623291 St James the Great: Friern Barnet
CWGC (2016) Commonwealth War Graves Commission CWGC Unique File Reference Number: 10560 [Bibliography/Data]
Number of War Graves: 17
ICBS (1817-1989) Incorporated Church Building Society Archive https://images.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/luna/servlet/detail/LPLIBLPL~34~34~94664~114667 [Archive/Graphic material]

Groundplan

ICBS File Number - 04524

Coverage - 1852-1854

Created by ?HABERSHON (WILLIAM GILBEE & EDWARD)

ICBS (1817-1989) Incorporated Church Building Society Archive https://images.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/luna/servlet/detail/LPLIBLPL~34~34~94673~114668 [Archive/Graphic material]

Groundplan

ICBS File Number - 04524

Coverage - 1852

Created by HABERSHON (WILLIAM GILBEE & EDWARD)

Church Buildings Council (2019) Church Bells 1 Bell [Archive/Index]
1 Bell

If you notice any errors with the below outlines of your connected churchyards, please email heritageonline@churchofengland.org with the corrections needed.

This could include information on new churchyards, edits to the boundaries shown, or different land characteristics. 

We are working on adding the consecrated land found within local authority cemeteries, and in time, this data will be shown on the map.

Grid Reference: TQ 272 929

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Administrative Area

Great London Authority:

The administrative area within which the church is located.

Greater London Authority

Location and Setting

This field describes the setting of the church building, i.e. the surroundings in which the church building is experienced, and whether or not it makes a positive or negative contribution to the significance of the building.

Friern Barnet is a residential area with a semi-rural feel on the edge of London, with swathes of rural Middlesex within the M25 close by. The apparently Victorian Gothic church of flint is set back from the main road, Friern Barnet Lane, within the churchyard but still manages to be a significant presence in the townscape, its steeple peeping up through the trees.  The churchyard is very large and well kept by the local authority as a pleasant “green lung” with flowers, hedges and trees dividing it into discreet areas traversed by tarmac paths. It is demarcated externally by a low wooden fence.  There are grave markers and tomb chests from the late 18th century, war graves in the south and a large stone cross war memorial to the north on a round plinth within its own garden.  There is also a Garden of Rest by the east end of the church for cremated remains. 

Church Plan

Work in progress - can you help?

Ground Plan Description and Dimensions

Ground Plan

Provide as written description of the ground plan of the church building and well as its dimensions.

5-bay nave and narrower chancel,  4-bay south aisle with west tower in the angle of aisle and nave, south-west porch. Octagonal north-west extension.

Dimensions

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

Nave approximately 23m (75 ft) x 8m (25’6ft).

Footprint of Church buildings (m2):

Small (<199m2)

Medium (200-599m2)

Large (600m-999m2)

Very Large (>1000m2)

459 m2

Description of Archaeology and History

This field aims to record the archaeological potential of the wider area around the building and churchyard, as well as the history of site.

The church was probably built in the 12th century and certainly by 1199, the year in which it was confirmed in the possession of the Knights of St John by King John along with the estate of Barnet. At this time the estate was mostly woodland, which it remained up to the 19th century. An illustration of the church in 1779 shows a simple, still basically Norman church consisting of a 3-bay nave with a short tower over the west bay, short narrower chancel, and south-west porch. A vestry was been added in 1807, the chancel rebuilt in brick, the west wall also rebuilt and the tower removed and replaced in 1812 by a small timber belcote at the west end. The church building, and more particularly the site, are of high archaeological potential, and may preserve one of the few relatively undisturbed areas of medieval stratigraphy in this historic settlement.

Exterior Description

This field aims to record a written description of the exterior of the church building and the churchyard.

The church as it now stands appears wholly Victorian in the Early English style. It has been slightly compromised by the octagonal chapter-house style extension with linking passage, the brown brick and slate contrasting sharply with the attractive speckled wall surfaces and weathered tile roof of the church. 

The tower does give some vertical emphasis, the enforced narrowness of the footprint compensated for by a tall thin pyramid steeple with gilded weather vane, the steeple canted out at the base. The belfry stage has shafted 2-light pointed openings, again with trefoil heads, and shafted corners. The stage is slightly corbelled out, the corbels moulded.

The nave and aisle fenestration is of paired cusped lancets, with shafted windows in the end walls, a 4-light and 3-light respectively in the west walls of the nave (a shafted pointed doorway under this window, with hood-mould and ball stops) and south aisle.  There are similar 3-lights in the east windows; trefoils in all the heads. Buttresses of two weatherings at the angles and to each bay.  The stumps of finials to the gables survive.

The north vestry has simple paired lancets in the east and north walls, as well as a trefoil window above a 4-centred pointed doorway in the east wall, the door as everywhere painted red. A stone chimney rises from the north wall, and adjacent is a lean-to tile-clad boiler room. 

The south porch has dwarf flint walls supporting a timber structure, painted a slightly garish blue (the rainwater goods are also this colour), a sharp contrast to the panelled and glazed red door within its simple pointed frame.

Architects, Artists and Associated People/Organisations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Who:
J Phillips
Role:
Architect / Surveyor ICM55
From:
To:
Contribution:

Building Fabric and Features

This field is an index of the building and its major components

Skip Navigation Links.
Collapse Building Fabric and FeaturesBuilding Fabric and Features
CHANCEL (19th century)
STAINED GLASS (1974)
STAINED GLASS (1910-28)
STAINED GLASS (1914-16)

Building Materials

This field is an index of the building’s material composition

Skip Navigation Links.
Collapse Building MaterialsBuilding Materials
FLINT (19th Century)
TILE (19th Century)

Interior Image

Interior image of 623291 St James the Great: Friern Barnet
Caption:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Interior image of 623291 St James the Great: Friern Barnet
Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Photograph of the interior of Friern Barnet St James the Great church taken 3 January 2001
Year / Date:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
2001
Copyright:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Archbishops' Council
Originator:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Joseph Elders

Interior Description

This field aims to record a written description of the interior of the church building.

The church is whitewashed throughout.  The floor of the nave has red and black quarry tiles set in a diamond pattern, there are some 17th and 18th-century ledger slabs set into this.  There are also many wall monuments, mostly at the west end of the nave, where the font stands under its heavy oak canopy.  The tower space is accessible here through tall pointed arches in the west wall of the aisle and west bay of the longer nave, plain panelled ceiling. Both nave and aisles are fully pewed with pitched pine benches in a plain 16th-century style.

The chancel, however, has modern, light-stained furniture and a beige carpet, and strikes quite a different note, especially with its stridently modern stained glass east window, presumably all effected together in the 1970s.  There is also a large carved rood suspended from the chancel roof. There is an identical doorway to the nave entrance described above leading to the sacristy.

Internal Fixtures and Fittings

This field is an index of the building’s internal, architectural components. This includes its internal spaces and those areas’ fixtures and fittings (building components which are securely fixed to the church or cathedral).

Skip Navigation Links.
Collapse Internal Fixtures and FittingsInternal Fixtures and Fittings
ALTAR
BELL (1 of 1)
FONT (OBJECT) (1855)
LECTERN (1855)
ORGAN (OBJECT) (19th Century)
PULPIT (1855)

Portable Furnishings and Artworks

This field is an index of the building’s movable, non-fixed furnishings and artworks.

Work in progress - can you help?

If you notice any errors with the below outlines of your connected churchyards, please email heritageonline@churchofengland.org with the corrections needed.

This could include information on new churchyards, edits to the boundaries shown, or different land characteristics. 

We are working on adding the consecrated land found within local authority cemeteries, and in time, this data will be shown on the map.

Grid Reference: TQ 272 929

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Ecology

This field aims to record a description of the ecology of the churchyard and surrounding setting.

Work in progress - can you help?

Ecological Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

The everyday wildlife of burial grounds means much to those who visit and cherish them but many burial grounds are so rich in wildlife that they should be designated and specially protected. Few have the legal protection of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or, in the case of local authority owned cemeteries, Local Nature Reserve. This makes it even more important that they are cared for and protected by the people looking after them.

Many have a non-statutory designation as a recognition of their importance. These non-statutory designations have a variety of names in different regions including Local Wildlife Site, County Wildlife Site, Site of Importance for Nature Conservation or Site of Nature Conservation Importance (Local Wildlife Site is the most common name). Their selection is based on records of the most important, distinctive and threatened species and habitats within a national, regional and local context. This makes them some of our most valuable wildlife areas.

For example, many burial grounds which are designated as Local Wildlife Sites contain species-rich meadow, rich in wildflowers, native grasses and grassland fungi managed by only occasional mowing plus raking. When this is the case, many animals may be present too, insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. This type of grassland was once widespread and has been almost entirely lost from the UK with approximately 3% remaining, so burial grounds with species-rich meadow managed in this way are extremely important for wildlife.

These designations should be considered when planning management or change.

If you think that this or any other burial ground should be designated please contact Caring for God’s Acre (info@cfga.org.uk) to discuss. Many eligible sites have not yet received a designation and can be surveyed and then submitted for consideration.

There are no SSSIs within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

There are no Local nature reserves within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

There are no Local Wildlife sites within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

Evidence of the Presence of Bats

This field aims to record any evidence of the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.

The church has no evidence of bats

Burial and War Grave Information

This field records basic information about the presence of a churchyard and its use as a burial ground.

It is unknown whether the church or churchyard is consecrated. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
It is unknown whether the churchyard is closed for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The churchyard has war graves.

National Heritage List for England Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

There are no Listed Buildings within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

There are no Scheduled Monuments within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

Churchyards are home to fantastic trees, in particular ancient and veteran trees which can be the oldest indication of a sacred space and be features of extraordinary individuality. The UK holds a globally important population of ancient and veteran yew trees of which three-quarters are found in the churchyards of England and Wales.

There are more than 1,000 ancient and veteran yews aged at least 500 years in these churchyards.

To put this in context, the only other part of western Europe with a known significant yew population is Normandy in northern France, where more than 100 ancient or veteran churchyard yews have been recorded.

Burial grounds may contain veteran and ancient trees of other species such as sweet chestnut or small-leaved lime which, whilst maybe not so old as the yews, are still important for wildlife and may be home to many other species.

Specialist advice is needed when managing these wonderful trees. For more information or to seek advice please contact Caring for God’s Acre, The Ancient Yew Group and The Woodland Trust.

If you know of an ancient or veteran tree in a burial ground that is not listed here please contact Caring for God’s Acre.

There are currently no Ancient, Veteran or Notable trees connected to this Closed Church

Churchyard Structures

This field is an index of the churchyard’s components.

Work in progress - can you help?

Significance

Setting Significance Level:

Significance is the whole set of reasons why people value a church, whether as a place for worship and mission, as an historic building that is part of the national heritage, as a focus for the local community, as a familiar landmark or for any other reasons.

Work in progress - can you help?
Setting Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?
Fabric Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?
Fabric Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?
Interior Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?
Interior Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?
Community Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?
Community Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?

Church Renewables

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Open the map of church renewable installations
Solar PV Panels:

This information forms part of the Shrinking the Footprint project.

No
Solar Thermal Panels:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Bio Mass:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Air Source Heat Pump:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Ground Source Heat Pump:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Wind Turbine:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
EV Car Charging:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Unknown

Species Summary

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

All of the species listed below have been recorded in close proximity to the Closed Church . A few species which are particularly threatened and affected by disturbance may not be listed here because their exact location cannot be shared.

NOTE: Be aware that this dataset is growing, and the species totals may change once the National Biodiversity Network has added further records. Species may be present but not recorded and still await discovery.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.

To learn more about all of the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.

‘Seek Advice’ Species

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

If any of the following species have been seen close to the Closed Church, it is important to seek advice from an expert. You will need to know if they are present now, and to follow expert recommendations when planning works. All of these species have specific legal protection as a recognition of their rarity. All of them are rare or becoming increasingly endangered, so it is important to ensure that management and other works do not adversely affect them. In addition, there may be things you can do to help these special species. N.B. Swift and House Martin do not have specific legal protection but are included, as roof repair works often impact breeding swifts and house martins which is against the law.

This is not a complete list of protected species, there are many more, but these are ones that are more likely to be found. All wild birds, their nests and eggs are also protected by law, as are all bats and veteran trees. In a few cases, species are considered particularly prone to disturbance or destruction by people, so the exact location of where they were recorded is not publicly available but can be requested. These ‘blurred’ records are included here, and the accuracy is to 1km. This means that the species has been recorded in close proximity to the Closed Church, or a maximum of 1km away from it. As these ‘blurred’ species are quite mobile, there is a strong likelihood that they can occur close to the Closed Church. To learn about these special species, use the link provided for each species in the table below

One important species which is not included here is the Peregrine Falcon. This is protected and advice should be sought if peregrines are nesting on a church or cathedral. Peregrine records are ‘blurred’ to 10km, hence the decision not to include records here. Remember too that species not seriously threatened nationally may still be at risk in your region and be sensitive to works. You should check with local experts about this. You may also need to seek advice about invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed and aquatics colonising streams or pools, which can spread in churchyards.

N.B. If a species is not recorded this does not indicate absence. It is always good practice to survey.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre can help and support you in looking after the biodiversity present in this special place. If you know that any of these species occur close to the Closed Church and are not recorded here, please contact Caring for God’s Acre with details (info@cfga.org.uk).

To find out more about these and other species recorded against this Closed Church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas.

The church was the centre of many people’s lives and remains a guide to their cares and concerns. Glimpses into those lives have often come down to us in the stories we heard as children or old photographs discovered in tattered shoe boxes. Perhaps your ancestors even made it into local legend following some fantastic event? You can choose to share those memories with others and record them for future generations on this Forum.

Tell us the story of this building through the lives of those who experienced it. Tell us why this church is important to you and your community.

Upload your photographs, share your videos, or compose your story below using a Facebook, Twitter, Google or Disqus account.

Refresh
WhoActionWhen
Oliver LackAdded fabric typeFri 19 Aug 2022 16:47:06
Oliver LackAdded fabric typeFri 19 Aug 2022 16:46:33
Oliver LackAdded fabric typeFri 19 Aug 2022 16:45:57
Oliver LackAdded interior feature typeFri 19 Aug 2022 16:45:03
Oliver LackAdded interior feature typeFri 19 Aug 2022 16:44:45
Oliver LackAdded interior feature typeFri 19 Aug 2022 16:44:23
Oliver LackAdded interior feature typeFri 19 Aug 2022 16:43:33
Oliver LackModified asset data - Modified the Interior DescriptionFri 19 Aug 2022 16:41:53
Oliver LackModified asset data - Modified the Exterior DescriptionFri 19 Aug 2022 16:40:25
Oliver LackModified asset data - Modified the Ground Plan Description and DimensionsFri 19 Aug 2022 16:37:00
First Previous Next Last 
Page 1 of 3 (23 items)
Page size:
Site Map  | Privacy | T & C | © 2014 - 2025 Archbishops' Council  | Web site by exeGesIS SDM | Rev. 3.4.8529.22773
  • Home
  • Login
  • Register
  • Church Search
  • Site Map