St James' Church, Cooling was restored in the 19th century, when a vestry was added, and the porch was rebuilt. It was declared redundant on 19 November 1976 and vested in the Churches Conservation Trust on 31 May 1978. It is now cared for by a group known as the Friends of St James' Church. The church is open daily to visitors. The churchyard provided the inspiration for the opening chapter of Charles Dickens' book "Great Expectations", in which the hero of the story, Pip, meets the convict, Magwitch. In 2005 the musician Jools Holland married the sculptor Christabel McEwan in the church. St
Francis Dickens cities. Francis Dickens is a character in Matthew Pearl's 2009 novel, "The Last Dickens". Dickens also appears in Bill Gallaher's "The Frog Lake Massacre" (2008). "The Diary of Francis Dickens", edited by Vernon LaChance, Kingston Jackson Press, 1930 "Francis Jeffrey Dickens", The Canadian Encyclopedia, (entry by John Evans) Eric Nicol, "Dickens of the Mounted: The Astounding Long-lost Letters of Inspector F. Dickens NWMP 1874–1886." (1989) McClelland & Stewart "Francis J. Dickens, An Ordinary Officer", "Beaver" Vol.78, No.3 June/July 1998 David J. Carter "Inspector F.J. Dickens: "The Christmas Carol baby"" (1998) Francis Dickens Francis Jeffrey Dickens (15 January 1844 – 11