The Church of St James dominates the village of High Melton, near Doncaster, in South Yorkshire.

Before the Reformation there was no ecclesiastical parish of High Melton (then known as Melton-super-Montem or Melton-on-the-Hill), remaining under the spiritual direction of the Priory at Hampole, which appointed a Curate[10] and claimed the income from the lands.

Several members of the Fountayne family are interred beneath the chancel[14] whilst the Carrara marble graves of the Montagues are located in the northern section of the churchyard.

Another local family which were connected to the church were the Levetts of High Melton, who settled there after leaving nearby Normanton, where they had been prominent since the 13th century.

[17] The coat of arms of the Levetts of High Melton and Normanton appear, like those of several prominent local families, in a stained glass window of St James' Church.

The rood screen hides a notable chancel arch, which is thought to be one of the earliest specimens of Norman work in the district.

The second stage of the tower, which is the ringing chamber, has a large stone fireplace on its east side and is locally reputed to have housed curates prior to the Restoration.