It has had several generous benefactors over the years, including the Fountayne family and its descendants, the Wilson family, which changed its name to Montagu following an inheritance.
 There are substantial memorials to members of these families in the church.
 Several members of the Fountayne family are interred beneath the chancel 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.
 John Levett of High Melton had married Mary, the daughter of Emmanuel Mote, who owned the manor of High Melton, having inherited it from his wife's family, the Copleys.
 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.

Benefactors helped to improve the state of the church in the early 20th century.
In particular, there is a spectacular rood screen bearing a crucifixion set of figures (1905), a reredos and altar frontals (1907) which are the work of Sir John Ninian Comper, who also did much work for York Minster.
 The rood screen hides a notable chancel arch, which is thought to be one of the earliest specimens of Norman work in the district.
It has had several generous benefactors over the years, including the Fountayne family and its descendants, the Wilson family, which changed its name to Montagu following an inheritance.  There are substantial memorials to members of these families in the church.  Several members of the Fountayne family are interred beneath the chancel 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.  John Levett of High Melton had married Mary, the daughter of Emmanuel Mote, who owned the manor of High Melton, having inherited it from his wife's family, the Copleys.  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.
Benefactors helped to improve the state of the church in the early 20th century. In particular, there is a spectacular rood screen bearing a crucifixion set of figures (1905), a reredos and altar frontals (1907) which are the work of Sir John Ninian Comper, who also did much work for York Minster.  The rood screen hides a notable chancel arch, which is thought to be one of the earliest specimens of Norman work in the district.
St James' Church, High Melton