St James Church, Fairburn

A Methodist Chapel was built in Fairburn in 1844 near Piper Hill, which caused concern for the Church of England as the Parish Church, All Saints in Ledsham, was a six-mile round trip for Fairburn’s villagers. To address this, St. James’ Church was built in Fairburn and consecrated in November 1846. The church showcases classic mid-19th-century architecture. Originally, heating came from a fireplace in the north nave, which is still visible outside the church but hasn’t been used since electric heating was installed in 1966.

John and Matilda Jackson, who lived in Ardeen House (later the Parsonage and then the Vicarage), played a key role in funding and supporting the church’s construction. Inside the church, a window to the right of the organ is dedicated to John’s brother Henry and his son Henry Frederick, both Fairburn natives. William Wailes, a renowned Victorian stained-glass artist, created this and other windows in the church, including the east window above the altar, which also features spiritual imagery and scripture. John and Matilda Jackson are buried in the churchyard near the left-hand corner behind the building, marked by a small Celtic cross.

By 1946, a century after its opening, the church was licensed to hold marriage ceremonies, so local couples no longer had to travel to Ledsham.