England's Thousand Best Churches [Hardcover]

Simon Jenkins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 3, 2002

Parish churches are England's glory. They enshrine the history of a people, most of whom have lived far from the capital, court and Parliament. These people - their art, architecture and faith - are seldom recorded or celebrated. The parish church is their public monument. Simon Jenkins has travelled the length and breadth of England to select his thousand best churches. They are of all periods and denominations, though most are mediaeval foundations. Organized by county, each church is described, often with delightful asides, and is given a star-rating from one to five. The four- and five-star churches are listed as the "hundred best". The county sections are prefaced by a map locating each church and illustrated with photographs by Paul Barker from the "Country Life" archive. These churches house a gallery of vernacular art without equal in the world. From the Norman grotesques of Kilpeck to the Quaker simplicity of Come-to-Good, from the painted saints of Ranworth to the mighty fan vault of Sherborne, from the rose Madonna of Willoughby to Sara Losh's Cumbrian homage to love, these works would rank in any national museum. Simon Jenkins has brought this museum, located in some of England's most beautiful places, to public attention and asks that we treasure it for the next millennium.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This excellent county-by-county survey celebrates the classic beauty, quirky individuality, and, in most cases, sublime resilience of England's parish churches, large and small, old and new, in city, town, and village. Jenkins, a veteran journalist and prolific author, shares his knowledge of the artistic and historic treasures stored in English churches with the gusto of a connoisseur, leavening his precise and vivid descriptions of each church's features with wry observations about the foibles of man, medieval or modern. He also ranks the churches using a five-star system. The text does assume some familiarity with the terminology of church architecture and the regions of England; fortunately, a glossary clarifies most terms, and maps and brief introductions to each county should help non-Anglophiles get their bearings. The general introduction outlines English church history and explains the criteria for evaluating the churches, emphasizing accessibility. Over 100 stunning color photographs from the archive of Country Life magazine, along with two indexes, one of artists and one of places, add to the appeal of this irresistibly browsable volume. Students of history, religion, and architecture will enjoy the lively insights, while the armchair traveler will be taken on a delightful odyssey across time and space. Highly recommended.DVivian Reed, Long Beach P.L., CA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Simon Jenkins writes for The Times and the London Evening Standard - both of which he has previously edited. In 1998 he was voted Journalist of the Year.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 880 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Books; 2nd edition (October 3, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141011262
• ISBN-13: 978-0141011264
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,479,683 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Entertaining, Informative Study Of English Churches, May 1, 2000

By 

Michael Lima (Fresno, California USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: England's Thousand Best Churches (Hardcover)

Jenkins has created a masterful examination of these jewels in the British legacy. The book's authoritative tone stems from Jenkins' comprehensive descriptions of each church's distinguishing features. His eye for detail enables the reader to appreciate the styles that link each church together, as well as the individual features that make each church distinct.

This book could have been a dry, lifeless study. Instead, it is quite entertaining, thanks to Jenkins' penchant for casually slipping his opinions on various matters into a church's description. An example of this behavior can be found in the discussion of the church at Honeychurch. He notes: "The sign on the door says simply, 'This door is never locked.' It should be the motto of the Church of England." These understated opinions on matters as diverse as church restoration and Victorian stained glass give the book a casualness that most scholarly studies don't possess.

Anglophiles and architecture students will find there's something in this book for both of them. For the Anglophile, the pictures and descriptive text will easily have one imagining that they are walking through the moors and dales. For the student, the discussions of each church's architectural and decorative details will provide an excellent resource for understanding the design of the buildings. However, the readership of this book shouldn't be limited to these groups. Any reader will find the book to be an invaluable guide for understanding the significance of these English cultural treasures.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The consummate gift book, November 4, 2000

By 

Elizabeth G. Melillo "gloriana" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: England's Thousand Best Churches (Hardcover)

The history presented, and the wonderful photographs, are a panorama of architectural beauty and fascination topped only by Jenkins' insightful and witty comments. This is a perfect "coffee table volume" for anyone interested in the Church, the arts, or history, and for others who plan travel to areas of England they have not previously explored. An added bonus is that those passionate about any one of the topics will, as I have found, have the further entertainment of arguing whether Simon's choices actually were of the 1,000 best, and which of their own favourites would have topped them.

5.0 out of 5 stars England's Thousand Best Churches, June 12, 2010

By 

Margaret Sweet - See all my reviews
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This review is from: England's Thousand Best Churches (Hardcover)

Not only is this a well written and very complete book on Anglican and Catholic churches in the UK, it is also a beautiful book to hold and look at. It is extremely well written and filled with historical details concerning construction and the background of the buildings. Illustrations emphasize most churches. The book is broken down into British Shires which makes for ease in finding specific churches.