St James' Church is in the village of Audlem in south Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. The church dates from the late 13th century with additions in the 19th century. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield and the deanery of Nantwich. Its benefice is combined with those of St John, Doddington, and St Chad, Wybunbury. The church stands in an elevated position in the centre of the village. History The church is not recorded in the Domesday Book and it is thought that the first building on the site was given by Thomas de Aldelim to the priory of St Thomas at Stafford in the reign of Edward I. After the dissolution of the monasteries the advowson was granted to the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield. The church dates from the late 13th and early 14th centuries. In 1855–56 there were additions and alterations by Lynam and Rickman The church stands on a small mound in the centre of the village. It is built of red sandstone ashlar with a lead roof.[1] Its plan consists of a six-bay nave with an embattled clerestory, a tower at the northwest corner of the nave, a north aisle with a chapel at its east end, a narrower south aisle, a chancel and a south porch. The church is approached through the south porch by 26 steps arranged in a semicircle. The south wall contains a former priest's doorway which has been walled up and its steps removed. The tower has on its west face a two-light window, above which is a pair of windows and above these is a circular clock. The belfry windows have two lights and are louvred. The top is embattled with pinnacles at the four corners
