Contact us

We are presently without a vicar.

Also check the WHO’S WHO page for other members.

Secretary: Mrs Jennifer Wharton
e-mail: wharton370@btinternet.com
Tel: 01845 577946

Parish Safeguarding Officer:

Mrs Christine Rushmere      email: cemoor@btinternet.com     01845 440729

Diocesan Safeguarding Advisers:

Sara Dickinson. 01904 699524        Rob Marshall.  07551 124951

How to find us

Church of St James, Wide Howe Lane,
Baldersby St James,
Thirsk,
North Yorkshire,
YO7 4PT

Friends of St James’ Church

St James’ Church is blessed with many volunteers who are “Friends of the Church”. Some are regular worshipers, others are not . Most come from within the parish, some from well outside its boundaries. They are all linked by a common desire which is to maintain a magnificent building , look after its artefacts , grounds, and promote its use.

Their interests and talents are diverse and provide much needed support with regard to the running of one of the most significant churches in Yorkshire which you would expect to see located in a town and not in a rural hamlet.

Volunteer activities comprise the following:

Churchyard Maintenance.

Our volunteers meet fortnightly in the summer months to maintain the churchyard, install bird boxes suitable for a wide range of birds, (a barn owl box was erected in December 2014 –donated by a local firm) and record flora and fauna including butterflies and moths.

Guided Tours.

Thanks to the Volunteers we are able to offer guided tours of the church, tower, belfry and spire for groups who are interested in campanology and architecture and would like to acquire more information than is available in our booklets on sale in the church. There is a small kitchen and thanks to volunteers tea and refreshment can be arranged. Parking does not represent a problem, ramps are available for wheelchair access and there are toilet facilities with disabled access. Please contact Rosemarie Carter, church warden, to arrange a tour.

Preservation of Church Fabrics and Linen.

The church possesses an impressive array of fabric in the form of altar frontals and vestments which require maintenance in the form of repair, cleaning and ironing. Our volunteers, some skilled in embroidery, ensure that these items are well looked after for daily use and fit to be put on display on Heritage Open Days.

Bells

Our ring of eight bells are now electronically rung via a computer. With regard to their maintenance, we are fortunate to have the services of a volunteer IT specialist who regular checks the programming. That said, we rely on other volunteers to clean the ringing chamber, and belfry and ensure that the back up Ellerton Chiming System installed in 1880 and the associated bell ropes are in sound working order.

Fund Raising

We need money to maintain the church and our volunteers support our fund raising events which currently take the form of Book Fairs held annually in September and lectures. Our last guest speaker was John Grundy, a TV Celebrity , who spoke with passion about William Butterfield, the architect who designed St James. The talk celebrated the 200th anniversary of his birth and was given to an audience of ninety.

If you would like to become a “Friend of St James” and join our team of enthusiastic volunteers who look after this unique building then please contact the Volunteer Co-ordinator:

Mrs Susan Brown,
Tel: 01765 640398
e-mail: c.b.brown398@hotmail.co.uk

Other related websites

A Church Near You – www.achurchnearyou.com