St. James' church, Bix Brand is located in a valley in the Chiltern hills and is the ruin of a mediaeval church. The village of Bix Brand that once surrounded St. James', was a mediaeval settlement which fell into decline by the 18th century in favour of the modern village of Bix, a mile to the south.

The church today stands in isolation by the minor road to Bix Bottom. It is mostly hidden from view by the trees that surround the graveyard. The roof was removed shortly after it was abandoned in 1875 when a new church was built in Bix village. The structure now is in an extremely dilapidated state. The west wall has collapsed and the rest of the building supports an extensive growth of ivy.

To gain access, simply park on the wide grassy verge and follow the path through the trees. Before you stands the church in a sea of vegetation.

It was not a large church, having no tower and only a single nave and chancel. It is of flint construction typical of this area. The graveyard is overgrown. No standing headstones are evident, but a couple of grave markers rest against the north wall. The main entrance is on the south wall.

Inside the church, the aisle debris litters and the undergrowth has begun to take hold. From the rear of the building the small size of the structure is apparent. One almost feels as though you could touch each wall standing in the aisle.

The rounded Romanesque arch and chancel screen provide clues to the age of the building. The keystone is missing so how long the arch will stay intact is hard to predict. A closer look shows the extent to which the structure has deteriorated.

The UK has no shortage of abandoned mediaeval churches or deserted village sites. St. James' was not the first Bix church, an earlier church site is thought to have been nearby. What makes St. James' unusual is that while it survived the demise of the village it was only abandoned comparatively recently.

English Heritage has several pictures showing the structure in a more intact state taken in the 1890s before the collapse of the west wall.