Welcome to St James' website. You'll find information here on our ancient and beautiful church, our services and organisations, and the ways in which we try to serve this community of Norton, Batemoor and Jordanthorpe, along with our ecumenical partners at Meadowhead Christian Fellowship ("Unit 3").

Norton was once a large parish, taking in Norton Lees, Woodseats, Greenhill and Hemsworth: everything northwards up to the Sheaf and the Meers-brook. The village centre was never very populous, for it was along the rivers on the edges of the parish that water-powered iron industries developed, particularly the manufacture of large blades (scythes, sickles, etc) and nails. Dairy farming was also important until very recently, and it will be remembered that as a boy about 1790, the sculptor Sir Francis Chantrey used to take milk, butter and eggs into Sheffield on his donkey. He attended Norton Free School - somewhat irregularly - and its very modern successor still shows our commitment to education in this parish.

Today we are fortunate in retaining something of a village aspect, thanks largely to Graves Park (the old Norton Hall estate) and Oakes Park. The remote Jordanthorpe where Chantrey grew up has lent its name to a modern housing estate, but even so we are bounded on the south and east by rolling open country leading down to the Moss-brook. St James' is here to serve the whole community, and we are currently engaged in restoring and converting the old (1894) school as a new parish hall, which will bring together a range of activities for children and young people.

You are very welcome to come along to any of our services, which take place on weekdays as well as Sundays, when our fine choir sing at both the 10.30am Sung Eucharist and the traditional Prayer Book Evensong at 6.15pm. Unfortunately, the church cannot be left open, but visits outside services can be arranged: by appointment.

We hope to see you sometime in the future.

Yours in Christ,

Geoffrey B. White, Rector.