James is shown in ten of the stained glass windows installed in the 1870s in our church. The six windows to the sides of the body of the church are most likely to have been studied by the congregation but these depict St John with a dashing blue halo. St. James keeps a lower profile on the three windows below the crucifixion scene above the altar and on the six rather dark windows above the Sowden Chapel that was not built when these windows were set up. The nine windows reflect the nine named appearances of James in the Gospels. James gets an additional appearance as one of the four figures to the sides of the crucifixion together with St. Peter, St. John and Mary. The three windows directly above the altar are not labelled with the events that they portray.

Above the Altar Opposite choir

1. St. James shown with a red halo.
2. The beheading of James.
3. James falls asleep in Gethsemane.
4. Jesus appears to the eleven apostles after the crucifixion and shows his hands and feet. This occurs in or about Jerusalem (Luke xxiv, 36) but James is not mentioned by name. Alternatively this could be the naming of the twelve apostles (Mathew x, 2) depicted with a little artistic license.
5. The transfiguration.
6. The request of James and John to sit at the right and left sides of Jesus as he rules his kingdom.
7. James fishing on the sea of Tiberias.
8. James and John are reproached by Christ for their anger against the Sarmaritans.
9. The raising of Jairus’ daughter.
10. James and John are called to be disciples of Jesus.