St James’ dates back to Saxon / Norman times. By the early 13th century it was administered by The Abbey of Leicester who appointed the first vicar in 1210. The Abbey continued in this position until the Reformation. The parish obviously took to the reform church and the renewal of the Catholic faith under Queen Mary led to John Kurde, a Syresham bootmaker, to stand up for his Protestant faith. For this he was condemned to death and burnt at the stake in Northampton. He is the sole Marian martyr in the county.
On the walls of the church can be seen traces of Medieval frescos including one of the Beatitudes and others with a quotation from the prophet Micah and one of the ten commandments. The church also contains a good Norman font. The stained glass follows the restoration of the church by William White in the late 1860’s. It is by Heaton, Butler and Bayne and later by Burliston and Grylls. The good wall monument which may be by the famous maker Garrett Hollemans is to Peter Andrews who died here in 1612.
