The ancient church which appears to have been dedicated to ST. ANDREW, but later was generally spoken of as St. James the Great, stood at the east end of the village. It was destroyed by a storm in 1724, and in 1728 was rebuilt 'in humble imitation of the Chapel at Pembroke College; it had only one small bell, without a wheel.' The present church of ST. JAMES consists of a chancel with vestry and organ chamber on the north, nave with north aisle and a large mortuary chapel on the south, and a tower and spire at the west end of the north aisle. The walls are of stone and the roof is covered with slate; the spire being of timber covered with oak shingles.
There are monuments: in the nave to Edward G. Duncombe, d. 1851, Henry C. Duncombe, d. 1903, Blanche E. C. Duncombe, d. 1917, and Walter H. O. Duncombe, d. 1917; and Lady E. Caroline Duncombe, d. 1911. In the north aisle to Thomas Marshe, d. 1624; Elizabeth (Kimpton), wife of Thomas Marshe, d. 1632; Philladelphia (Johnson), wife of John Byng, d. 1685; William Needham, d. 1806; Ann, wife of General Needham, d. 1816; Francis Needham Offley, killed at the battle of Salamanca, 1812; the Rev. Thomas Jackson, Vicar, d. 1815; and two others; in the vestry, to the Rev. Christopher Wilson, Vicar, d. 1848. The registers are as follows: (i) Baptisms, 19 Nov. 1647–18 Oct. 1781; marriages, 28 March 1664–30 Sept. 1750; burials, 20 March 1663–23 Dec. 1781; (ii) baptisms and burials, 19 July 1782–25 Dec. 1812; (iii) marriages, 10 June 1754–30 Nov. 1812.