On 27 July 1840, two churches were consecrated to meet the increased demand because of Dudley's industrial growth and expanding population. These two churches were St James at Eve Hill and St John's at Kates Hill. At first, they were chapels-of-ease to St Thomas, but in 1844 St James had its own parish created with the vicar of St Thomas as patron.
St James is a very impressive building, built in the early English Style. It cost £3500 to build on land which was provided by the Earl of Dudley, then Lord Ward. The architect was William Bourne and the builder was John Holland. Improvements and restoration work were carried out in 1868/69 and these cost £1770. These improvements eradicated the former barn-like features much to the satisfaction of everyone, in particular, the worshippers.
Family Grave of John Stokes, St James Church, Dudley (2008).
Hannah Stokes Age 68 Date of Death 24.11.1848
Elizabeth Stokes Age 53 Date of Death 04.02.1863
Richard Stokes Age 82 Date of Death 15.12.1863
John Stokes (Son of Richard) Age 66 Date of Death 22.08.1877
John Nettleton Age 68 Date of Death 22.03.1885
Walter Stokes Age 60 Date of Death 25.11.1916
Family Grave of John Stokes, St James Church, Dudley (2008).
Family Grave of John Stokes, St James Church, Dudley (2008).
Family Grave of John Stokes, St James Church, Dudley (2008).
Headstone of William Oliver, his wife Sarah and daughter Ada Elizabeth, wife of T F C Boddison, St James Church, Dudley (2008).
Monumental Inscription
In loving memory of/Thy will be done/WILLIAM OLIVER/Who died October 15th 1889/Aged 47 years./Also of Sarah his wife/Who died March 22nd 1899/Aged 56 years./At rest.
Also of their daughter/ADA ELIZABETH/Wife of T.F.C.BODDISON who died/October 27th 1917, aged 38 years./Thy will be done.
Census
William Oliver appears on the 1881 Census with his wife Sarah, daughter Ada E, nephew James Andrews and servant Phoebe ? living at 104, Hall Street, Dudley. There are two boarders in a separate household. William's occupation is Licensed Victualler. This is the last Census on which he appears.
Headstone of Arthur Stanley Burrows, St James Church, Dudley (2008).
Monumental Inscription
In/Loving memory of/ARTHUR STANLEY BURROWS/Beloved husband of Bessie/Who passed away Nov.24th 1949/Aged 32 years./Worthy of everlasting remembrance.
Headstone/Grave of Elizabeth Bytheway, her husband George S O and daughter Mary Elizabeth, St James Church, Dudley (2008).
Monumental Inscription
In loving memory of/Elizabeth/The beloved wife of/George S. O. Bytheway/Fell asleep December 14th 1944/Aged 70 years./Also of the above/George Samuel Overton Bytheway/Fell asleep January 17th 1964/Aged 91 years./And the beloved daughter/Mary Elizabeth/died Feb.1st 1937/aged 37.
Census
Elizabeth Bytheway appears on the 1901 Census with her husband George, daughter Mary E and son John S living at 150, Wolverhampton Street, Dudley.
Headstone/Grave of John Lovell, son Nicodemus, grandson John Thomas Henry Wood and wife Elizabeth, St James Church, Dudley (2008).
Monumental Inscription
In loving memory of/JOHN LOVELL/Who died Dec.27th 1894/Aged 42 years
Also NICODEMUS/Son of the above/Who died Jan.13th 1898/Aged 22 years
Also JOHN THOMAS HENRY WOOD (Grandson)/Who died April 1st 1905/Aged 3 years
Also Elizabeth/Beloved wife of JOHN LOVELL/Who died Dec.17th 1937/Aged 81 years/Thy will be done.
Census
John Lovell appears on the 1891 Census with his wife Elizabeth, daughters Eppy, Louisa and Elizabeth and sons Tom, Nehemiah and Jack living at 79 Eve Hill, Dudley. John's occupation is Hawker. Two more sons, Nicodemus and Joseph are living next door, at 78 Eve Hill, Dudley, with 12 lodgers. This is the last Census on which John and his son Nicodemus appear.
Headstone of Maria Taylor and her husband James, St James Church, Dudley (2008).
Monumental Inscription
In/Loving memory of/MARIA/Beloved wife of JAMES TAYLOR/- Wren's Nest -/Died18th Jan.1933/Aged 60 Years.
And God saw her footsteps falter/And the road had grown too steep/So he gently closed her eyelids/And gave our beloved one sleep
Also/James/The beloved husband of the above/Who died 10th Aug. 1944/Aged 71 Years./Re-united.
Commonwealth War Grave, A Skidmore, St James Church, Dudley (2008).
This stone was replaced in 1979.
Name: SKIDMORE, ALFRED
Initials: A
Nationality: Australian
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: Australian Engineers
Unit Text: 3rd Div.Signal Coy
Age: 27
Date of Death: 11/10/1917
Service No: 10675
Additional Information: Son of David and Alice Skidmore, of 4, Power Avenue,
Hawthorne, Victoria, Australia.
Born at Melborne
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Near South-East corner of Church
Cemetery: DUDLEY (ST. JAMES CHURCHYARD)
Courtesy of Commonwealth War Grave Commission
Commonwealth War Grave, Alice Jemima Johnson, St James Church, Dudley (2008).
Monumental Inscription
A.T.S./W/85432 Private/ALICE JEMIMA JOHNSON/Aux. Territorial Service/23rd December 1941 age 20/
As time goes by/And shadows fall/memories of you/We oft recall.
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Name: JOHNSON, ALICE JEMIMA
Initials: A J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Auxiliary Territorial Service
Age: 20
Date of Death: 23/12/1941
Service No: W/85432
Additional Information: Daughter of Leonard and Emma Johnson, of Dudley
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: North part of old churchyard
Cemetery: DUDLEY (ST. JAMES CHURCHYARD)
Courtesy of Commonwealth War Grave Commission
In loving memoryof/LEONARD JOHNSON/Husband of EMMA/Died 20th February 1972/Aged 74 years./Rest In Peace
Also loving wife EMMA/Died 16th October 1990/Aged 91 Years/Reunited.
Commonwealth War Grave, J M Keeley, St James Church, Dudley (2008).
Monumental Inscription
Buried in this churchyard/2165 Private J. M. Keeley/Worcestershire Yeomanry/8th February 1916.
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Name: KEELEY, JAMES MAURICE
Initials: J M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars (Worcester Yeomanry)
