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St. James' Church in Somerton is a fine stone building consisting of a chancel, clerestoried nave, north aisle, south chapel, north porch, and western tower. All that now remains of the original 12th-century church is a blocked-up doorway in the centre of the south wall of the nave. The north aisle was added in the late 12th or early 13th century, and is separated from the nave by an arcade of four arches carried on circular columns. A single late-13th-century window indicates that the chancel was probably rebuilt at that period, but the sedilia and the other windows date from the 14th century. The east window and the chancel arch are 19th-century restorations.

On the south side of the nave are two 14th-century arches which indicate that a south aisle preceded the existing chapel. The spring of another unfinished arch shows that a third bay was intended but never built.

In the north aisle are two early 14th-century recesses: one may have been originally the tomb of Sir William de Gardinis (d. 1287), for in 1323 an indulgence was granted to all persons praying for the repose of his soul at the newly erected altar to the Virgin in this aisle.  Square-headed windows were inserted later in the east and west walls. The tower dates from the late 14th century, but the battlements and pinnacles were added in the 15th century. On the north side there is a shallow niche which contains a finely carved holy rood, probably of late-14th-century date. The clerestory and a battlemented parapet were added to the nave and aisles in the late 15th or early 16th century, perhaps when the Fermor chantry (see below) was built, and the tie-beam roof of the nave, supported on carved corbels, dates from about the same period. At the beginning of the 16th century the east end of the south aisle, which he probably lengthened, was converted into a chantry by William Fermor; he inserted new windows, made a new entrance, and built the present round-headed arch which gives access to the aisle from the chancel. The aisle became the burial-place of the Fermor family, which was responsible for its upkeep until the end of the 19th century. 

The original high-pitched chancel roof survived until the beginning of the 19th century and was replaced, probably in 1811, by a flat one; about this time the east window was lowered and the 15thcentury oak seats were removed except for the few that can still be seen (1956) in the north aisle. In 1825 seats were inserted under the gallery for the use of the schoolchildren; in 1854 £75 was spent on repairs to the church, when the chancel arch was rebuilt and new flooring put down. By 1889 the church was reported to be unsafe by the architect J.D. Sedding. The building was conservatively restored in 1891 at a cost of about £2,500, In addition to repairs to the nave and roof, a buttress was added to the north wall of the chancel. 

The 14th-century hexagonal font is unusual. A few medieval tiles have survived. The stone reredos, perhaps of early 14th-century date, is also notable. It represents Christ with eleven of His Apostles at the Last Supper and is similar to an altar-piece at Bampton, which is also made of stone from Brize Norton. In the 17th century the reredos is said to have been hidden to save it from being destroyed by the Puritans, but in 1658 it was seen by Wood. In 1822, after having been restored at the rector's expense, it was replaced in its original position. 

The chancel screen dates partly from the 15th century. The loft and vaulting have gone, and the lower panels were restored by J.D. Sedding in 1891. The shield with Bishop Juxon's arms was added in 1632. Two late 15th or early 16th-century screens separate the south chapel from the nave, and a Jacobean screen completes the inclosure of the Fermor aisle. The reading-desk was renewed in 1757 and the pulpit in 1764. The oak screen in the tower door designed by Thomas Garner was erected in memory of the Coronation of Edward VII and the carved oak vestry screen was added in 1915. Electricity was put in in 1936. Two glass panels with Juxon's arms were erected in the 17th century in the east window of the chancel; these were later removed to the Rectory.

The church is chiefly noted for the fine 16thcentury monuments in the Fermor chapel. There is a brass to William Fermor (d. 1552) and his wife Elizabeth Norreys, with figures and shields of arms. There is an alabaster monument to Thomas Fermor (d. 1580) and his wife Bridget Bradshaw, who are represented with their four children. The tomb was originally inscribed in gold lettering and embellished with painted coats of arms; traces of the original colouring can just be seen. The agreement for the making of the tomb between Thomas Fermor's executors and the masons, Richard and Gabriel Roiley of Burton-on-Trent, survives: they charged £40, and Gabriel Roiley and his man spent about six weeks in Somerton putting up the tomb. There is also a large monument to Sir Richard Fermor (d. 1642/3), with an heraldic escutcheon and the figure of a recumbent man in armour. Of similar design is the tomb of Sir John Fermor (d. 1625). There is an undated wall tablet to James Smith and a floor slab to Colonel Thomas Morgan, husband of Jane Fermor, who was killed at the battle of Newbury in 1643. There are many other inscriptions to members of the Fermor family and their wives: to Henry (d. 1672/3), his son Richard (d. 1684/5), and his son Henry (d. 1702/3). Later holders of the manor buried there are James Fermor (d. 1722), Henry Fermor (d. 1746/7), William Fermor (d. 1806), Richard (d. 1817), and William Fermor of Tusmore (d. 1828), the last Fermor to be buried in Somerton. On the north side of the chancel arch there is a wall tablet to William Mynne, gentleman (d. 1665), and Mary Mynne (d. 1659/60). There is a floor slab to Richard Todkill, gentleman and schoolmaster (d. 1656/7). A stone to James Wilmer, curate (d. 1641), mentioned by Wood, is no longer visible. 

In 1552 the church had three bells and a sanctus bell. It owned a silver chalice, as well as vestments. In 1955 it had an inscribed silver chalice (c. 1750), which was mentioned in 1757. Five of the church's ring of six bells were cast in the Chalcombe foundry between 1635 and 1707. All are inscribed, the tenor being given by William Aston, 'esquire', and the fourth by John Hore, churchwarden. 

The registers date from 1627, with a gap between 1647 and 1660. There are churchwardens' accounts from 1778.

The medieval cross in the churchyard has its shafts and steps still intact. It is thought there was once a Roman Catholic burial-ground under part of the school, as several skeletons and a silver cross were found under the floor in the 19th century.

Historical information about St. James' Church is provided by 'Parishes: Somerton', in A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 6, ed. Mary D Lobel (London, 1959), pp. 290-301. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/oxon/vol6/pp290-301 [accessed 21 February 2023].

St. James' Church is a Grade I listed building. For more information about the listing see CHURCH OF ST JAMES, Somerton - 1225707 | Historic England.

For more information about St. James' Church see Parishes: Somerton | British History Online (british-history.ac.uk).