The churchyard at St James in autumn light

In our churchyard

A place of sanctuary

Many people visit our churchyard and the surrounding footpaths because they love the tranquillity and harmony. You are welcome to share it, whether you are passing through or coming to sit a while.

Golden autumn light through the trees across the parkland behind St James churchyard

Tranquillity and harmony

Whatever balm you need

It is clear from a recent survey that many people visit our churchyard and the surrounding footpaths because they love the tranquillity and harmony.

This very special setting offers an opportunity to get out of the built-up areas that surround us, to enjoy the fresh air and open space of the countryside, and to find a harmony and stillness in your mind and a lightness in your heart.

You are welcome to share our place of sanctuary, whether you are just passing through or coming to spend a little time in quiet contemplation, sitting on one of the benches or simply soaking up the atmosphere.

Whatever balm you need, we hope that a little time in our churchyard will help you find some healing.

Notable people

Some remarkable people lie here

Among those buried in our churchyard are a celebrated writer, a political scientist and two figures who shaped Leamington itself. You can find their resting places with the directions below.

A portrait of Vera Brittain as a young woman

1893 to 1970

Vera Mary Brittain

Buried with her husband, George Catlin. Memorial ID 21019895

An English Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) nurse, writer, feminist and pacifist. Her best-selling 1933 memoir Testament of Youth recounted her experiences during the First World War and the beginning of her journey towards pacifism. Her other works have featured on BBC Two and BBC Radio 4, her former homes are marked with blue plaques, and she has a promenade named after her in Hamburg.

Finding the grave. Stand next to the holly tree in the middle of the main churchyard, facing out towards the fields and the river, and look to your left. Vera Brittain's ashes lie in the grave of George Catlin, a little way along to your left, in line with the holly tree.

1896 to 1979

George Edward Gordon Catlin

Buried with his wife, Vera Brittain. Memorial ID 21020119

An English political scientist and philosopher, as well as a writer and journalist. A strong proponent of Anglo-American co-operation, he worked for many years as a professor at Cornell University and other universities and colleges in the United States and Canada.

1798 to 1878

Dr Henry Jephson

Buried with his wife Eliza and her sister Sarah

Dr Jephson worked at 11 Union Parade as partner to the town's first resident surgeon, Mr Charles Chambers, and married his wife Eliza at All Saints church. He established himself as a national figure, treating the military, naval and governing classes, and built a 21-room house called Beech Lawn, in three acres of garden, where the fire station now stands on Warwick Street. A philanthropist who used his Sunday fees to help the poor of the town, he championed the curative properties of the spa waters and reputedly treated Princess Victoria, Florence Nightingale, John Ruskin and George VI. Jephson Gardens are named after him, with a temple in the grounds dedicated to him. He sadly went blind aged 50, and retired.

Finding the grave. From the holly tree, move to the row of graves immediately adjacent to the wall between the churchyard and the field. The grave is to your left, with a triangular-shaped top, and his name is on the side nearest to you.

1800 to 1850

George Nelson

Buried with his wife, Sarah

A chance encounter in the churchyard led to an interesting discussion about the grave of George Nelson. Born in 1800, he studied chemistry and moved to Leamington Priors with his cousin, Thomas Bellamy Dale, setting up the chemist shops Nelson and White at 3 Union Parade and Nelson and Herring at 33 Bath Street. He took out his first patent for the manufacture of gelatine, making it odourless and colourless by using buffalo hide instead of calves' feet and bones, and moved to a factory in five acres at Emscote Mill, where the gelatine was poured into slabs to set that were nearly a mile long. He moved into The Lawns, built houses for his employees around Charles Street and Wharf Street that still remain, and built the Nelson Club in Charles Street, Warwick.

War memorial

Those belonging to Old Milverton Parish

Our memorial cross commemorates the soldiers of Old Milverton Parish who fell in the two World Wars. Each name is read aloud at the Remembrance Sunday service every November.

Two of the men, Frank Green of the Great War and Second Officer Alfred Edward Green of the Air Transport Auxiliary, lie in Commonwealth War Graves: the graves the Commonwealth War Graves Commission keeps, in perpetuity, for those who died in service.

The war memorial cross in St James churchyard, with poppies — The memorial cross, kept among the wildflowers

A cascade of knitted poppies dressing the font inside St James for Remembrance

The Great War, 1914 to 1918

Sub-Lieutenant Algernon William Percy
Royal Naval Reserve
Born 29 November 1884, killed in action aged 31 at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916, aboard HMS Queen Mary. He had joined the Northumberland Fusiliers in 1902, retiring as a Lieutenant in 1910, and was a Justice of the Peace and County Councillor for Warwickshire. At the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Royal Navy Reserve. His body was recovered and buried with full naval honours by the Norwegian authorities at Fredrikstad, south of Oslo. A young brother officer told how Percy, while they were in the water together, had offered him his life-saving waistcoat, which he refused to take.
Private John Alfred Broderick
23rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
Private 4621. Born Old Milverton 1896, killed in action 13 November 1916 aged 20. It is believed he enlisted in Coventry in 1915. The battalion saw action during the Somme Offensive at Delville and Ancre, and advanced on Redan Ridge. He was buried near where he fell at the Redan Ridge Cemetery, and was awarded the Victory and British War Medal.
Private George Goodman
10th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Private 20516. Born Milverton, killed in action on 23 March 1918.
Ernest William Greenaway
Private James Sylvester Thornborough
10th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Private 202832. Died 23 October 1917.
Private Frank Green
1st Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry
Private 10322, 'D' Company. Born Warwick, killed in action 28 February 1916 aged 19.

The Second World War

Lieutenant Edward C. Pittham
Royal Engineers, att. Queen Victoria's Own Madras Sappers & Miners
Lieutenant 171123. Died 23 November 1942.
Second Officer Alfred Edward Green
Air Transport Auxiliary
A Commonwealth War grave. Died Tuesday 9 December 1941, aged 25.

We will remember them.

More of the churchyard

There is more to explore

The churchyard today

Walkers and Doggy coffee, clearing mornings, the Quiet Garden and Muddy Church: the living churchyard, all year round.

See what is on

Footpaths, nature & the Camino

The paths across the fields to the Saxon Mill and the river, the plants and wildlife, and our link to the Way of St James.

Walk the paths

Eco Church

Our Bronze eco award, the churchyard biodiversity project, and the wildflowers, birds and creatures we make room for.

Caring for creation