Churches

St. James' - Bishampton

Church Profile

Dedicated to St James. Originally 12th Century with a tower added in the 14th Century. There are six bells, the seating capacity is 250 and offers a superb venue for weddings. For further information please ring Eric Carter on 01386462847 or email ecarter@sbush.eclipse.co.uk

St. James the Great. Feast Day 25 July

The son of Zebedee and Salome (Cf. Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40; 16:1). Zahn asserts that Salome was the daughter of a priest. James is styled "the Greater" to distinguish him from the Apostle James "the Less", who was probably shorter of stature. We know nothing of St. James's early life. He was the brother of John, the beloved disciple, and probably the elder of the two.

His parents seem to have been people of means as appears from the following facts.

  • Zebedee was a fisherman of the Lake of Galilee, who probably lived in or near Bethsaida (John 1:44), perhaps in Capharnaum; and had some boatmen or hired men as his usual attendants (Mark 1:20).
  • Salome was one of the pious women who afterwards followed Christ and "ministered unto him of their substance" (cf. Matthew 27:55, sq.; Mark 15:40; 16:1; Luke 8:2 sq.; 23:55-24:1).
  • St. John was personally known to the high-priest (John 18:16); and must have had wherewithal to provide for the Mother of Jesus (John 19:27).

It is probable, according to Acts 4:13, that John (and consequently his brother James) had not received the technical training of the rabbinical schools; in this sense they were unlearned and without any official position among the Jews. But, according to the social rank of their parents, they must have been men of ordinary education, in the common walks of Jewish life. They had frequent opportunity of coming in contact with Greek life and language, which were already widely spread along the shores of the Galilean Sea.

Village Profile:

The population is approximately 550, there is a general store/Post Office, a hairdresser and a public house. There is a superb recently built Village Hall, where a nursery group, amateur dramatics society, Brownies, gardening club and others meet and various educational courses are held. Although very rural, there is quite a lot of commuting from the village.