Note the position of the church door and porch. The Porch was moved to it's present position in 1891.

A little history :
(from G.J. Harris Directory of the Forest of Dean - 1897)

The village church dedicated to St James was partially rebuilt in 1861, and is in the form of a Roman cross with chancel, nave and north aisle; it has an organ and one bell. The stained glass window at the west end was inserted by the parishioners in 1883 to the memory of the late vicar, the Rev J. F. Gosling; another in the south wall of the chancel was inserted by his brothers. The church has recently undergone further improvements, by the removal of the porch further southward, the insertion of a window, and the re-arrangement of seats and the building of a chancel aisle which is used as a vestry and organ chamber, to the memory of the late Miss Alice Davies, by whose generosity the rebuilding in 1861 was chiefly accomplished. The register commences in 1680. The value of the living, which is the gift of the Bishop of the Diocese is £300 yearly. Vicar the Rev. E.F. Eeles .

The following extract written in June 1900 at the time of Thomas Batten's death provides more of St James church's history :

"Let me lay before you some facts which will show the grasp that Thomas Batten had upon the history of this church and parish, and made him so trustworthy a guide".
"Born 75 years ago in 1824, he might have witnessed as an infant, the consecration of the chapel of St James after the restoration by Henry Poole".
"In those days his grandfather, Thomas Batten, was chapel clerk and sexton , to which office he was appointed in 1791".

"In this double office his grandfather Thomas was succeeded in 1833 by his father, George and Thomas Batten himself succeeded his father George in 1847, 53 years ago. The three generations of the family have therefore occupied the same position in Bream for 9 years over the century.
Then for Thomas Batten himself. He was in office seven years before John Baverstock was made first vicar of Bream, when Bream was made a separate parish in 1854. He has witnessed the admission of five vicars to this church".

"Thomas Batten was a man of good business habits and capacity, true and just. I cannot remember his ever speaking unkindly of anyone. He was justly respected in>the parish, and reverenced and loved in his own family. And on his death-bed it was as a penitent sinner that he looked for salvation through the Saviour's merits only".

"The place of such a man, my brethren, will not easily be filled, and I should like to say to-day that in my opinion some lasting monument to his memory should be placed in this church, where he served and worshipped so faithfully and so long. It is well that we should be reminded often in this way of the dignity of service - of the great dignity of service in God's House".

If you wish to comment on this photo or can supply names of people please click here

WANTED: Old photos, old postcards, ephemera and memories of the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. U.K.- please click here to make contact.

---