St James' Church, Birdham

The earliest parts of the church, in the nave, can be definitely dated to the fourteenth century, but some parts may be older. A tower was added in the sixteenth century. The chancel is nineteenth century. The church was restored in 1863 and 1882–83 by G.M. Hills. Architectural historian Ian Nairn says that the impression left by the restoration is "terrifyingly harsh".

The church consists of a nave, with a south porch, chancel and tower. The nave is in three bays, marked on the outside by buttresses. The inner stonework of the windows dates from the Victorian restoration. The window in the second bay on the north has some ancient exterior stonework remaining. The squat tower is rendered and has diagonal buttresses. It was built around 1545, but an earlier tower may have been either planned or actually built. The evidence for this is in the sixteenth century Perpendicular style tower arch which sits on apparently fourteenth century shafts which are too small for it, leading to an awkward appearance. The chancel dates entirely from the restoration of 1863.…