The sanctuary is at the east end of the church, separated from the chancel by a step and altar rail. The sanctuary is the most sacred part of the church around its high altar. Sanctuary was also the right to be safe which was recognised by English law from the 4th to the 17th century. At that time a person was safe from arrest in the sanctuary of a church or temple.

The high altar The cross and a candlestick The book stand

There is a beautiful stained glass window above the high altar in the sanctuary with the three panels showing the 'Birth of Jesus', the 'Ascension' and 'Holy Family and Magi'. The windows on the south side of sanctuary show the 'Last Supper' and the 'Stoning of Stephen'. See all these windows on the images page The Sanctuary and Chancel Stained Glass Windows.

The High Altar
The oak high altar is in the sanctuary. It is a raised table used for the celebration of the Eucharist/Holy Communion. It is sometimes called the 'Lord's Table' or the 'Communion Table' because it represents the table where Jesus shared the last supper with his disciples.

The high altar has not been used for parish communion since 1964. Instead, a portable altar, normally kept in the south aisle, is carried to the front of the chancel. This means the priest faces the congregation instead of having his back to it up in the sanctuary.

The altar cross, two candlesticks and a brass bible stand are kept on the high altar. The brass and plate in St. James's Church reflects, not only the light created by human beings, but also, symbolically, the light of the Holy Spirit.

The reredos

The Altar Reredos
Behind the high altar is a beautifully carved stone ornamental screen called a reredos. The word reredos comes from an Anglo-Norman 14th century term areredos, from arere behind and dos back, from the Latin dorsum. It is also known as an 'altar-piece'. A reredos can be simple or elaborate.

In St. James's Church the reredos has several religious symbols. The central panel has a cross in marble. When St. James's was first built, it is unlikely that there was a cross on the high altar. In those days this marbel cross would have been seen as unacceptable in a 'Protestant' church. A cross in marble on the wall, though, may have been thought better. If the altar cross is removed from the high altar, as it is in Lent, the reredos cross provides a very obvious focus for the church, drawing one's eyes towards it. Above the cross there is an apex stone showing a dove carving, representing the Holy Spirit and peace, with and fern leaf decorations. The inset panels of the reredos have decorative tile patterns, shown below.

The cross is flanked by carvings of bread and wheat, and wine and grapes. The altar is the focus of the celebration of the eucharist or holy communion, when bread and wine are taken and shared. The depiction not just of the final products of bread and wine, but also of the ingredients wheat and grapes further remind us at the Harvest Festival that at the eucharist we use the fruits of the harvest in the Church's principal act of worship. Detailed pictures of the different parts of the reredos can be seen on the images page Stone Carvings.

Sanctuary or Bishop's Chairs and Litany Desks
The sanctuary or bishop's chairs are special chairs two of which stand near the entrance to the chancel and two stand in the sanctuary. They are made of wood and there are "IHS" carvings on the backs of three of the bishop’s chairs with another chair having "Do It With All" carved on it. "IHS" or "IHC" are the first three letters of the Greek for Jesus (IHCOYC) (see below). At some time during Revd. Job's incumbency in 1895 one of these oak chairs was presented by the Communicants' Association. Two of the chairs are exactly the same, with the carving "IHS" as shown on the far right below. See the chairs on the images page Bishop's Chairs & Litany Desks.

The Sedilia and Niche
On the south side of the sanctuary there is a sedilia (two stone canopied seats). Within this space are two stained glass windows, the 'Last Supper' and the 'Stoning of Stephen'. See these windows on the images page The Sanctuary & Chancel Stained Glass Windows.

In the north sanctuary wall there is a decorated niche. Next to this is an aumbry which is a locked cabinet or safe in the wall to hold the consecrated (made sacred) bread and wine that has not been used during the normal communion. This can then be taken to the ill or housebound who have asked for communion to be given to them at home. A wax sanctuary lamp stands in the niche next to the aumbry as a sign that this sacrament is stored here. The lamp is always burning to remind us that Christ is always present.

The Sedilia

The niche

The Lamp

The Aumbry

Sanctuary floor tiles in front of the altar

Tile panel on the altar reredos

Tile panel in the niche

Sanctuary floor tiles to the side of the altar