St James the Great, Keyham
The church of St James the Great, Keyham Road, Devonport, was damaged by enemy action in 1941. The church of St Michael in Albert Road, Stoke, received direct hits from four bombs during an air raid, also in 1941. It was decided to amalgamate the two parishes and to rebuild St Michael. St James was eventually demolished in 1958 (www.olddevonport.uk).
It is mentioned in Chaytor (1990) that Pinwill work existed at St James but with no indication of what that might be.
Font – Western Morning News (1913) E.H. Sedding & R.F. Wheatly architects; 1913
A newspaper report is the only evidence for what sounds like a remarkable piece of work from the Pinwill workshop. The font is described as richly carved and executed in red Penkridge stone. It consists of a large bowl with an elaborately carved border supported by four pillars on a double stone step. The cups and bases of the pillars are also carved. The whole scheme was deemed ‘extremely successful and pleasing’ (Western Morning News, 1913).
The question could be raised as to whether this font survived the bombing to be used in the rebuilt church of St Michael. However, when St Michael was rebuilt the altar, altar tables and font were all new, which strongly suggests that the St James font was damaged beyond repair.
Sources
Chaytor, E. (1990) Ermington Days. Melinga Publishing, North Cheam.
Western Morning News (1913) St James Church, Keyham. 21 May p. 8.