The church of St James is located in a small yard on the west side of Rhosddu Road, the apsidal east end facing the street. The foundation stone of a School Church was laid in September 1874, the building erected to designs of W. Turner, extended by the addition of chancel and south porch in 1875, and designated as a parish church in 1886 when it was consecrated.
The building, in simple early Decorated style, is of rusticated coursed and squared rubble with ashlar dressings and slate roof, banded in two colours, and with terraccotta ridge cresting. There is wrought iron brattishing to the chancel roof. The plan comprises nave with south porch, north and south transepts, and chancel with an apsidal ending of five sides of an octagon.
The nave has 3 bays, with king post and strut roof with wrought iron ties sprung from wall posts carried on corbels. Interior features also include cylindrical responds to the chancel arch, with foliate capitals; encaustic floor tiles to the chancel; original pews and pulpit; an eagle lectern of 1892; and, in the north transept, a free-standing organ of 1905.
Sources: extract from Cadw Listing database
D.R.Thomas, History of the Diocese of St Asaph vol.3 (1913), p.271