Churches of …

The county of Buckinghamshire has a rich and varied past which is reflected in its historic churches. In Churches of Buckinghamshire, author Eddie Brazil explores the architecture, history and beauty of a selection of the most interesting churches from all over the county, both the well-known and those waiting to be discovered by a wider audience. The buildings range from Anglo-Saxon, at Wing, and Norman/Romanesque, at Stewkley, through the many Gothic stages to the bare, box pew interiors of Protestantism, the plain simplicity of Jordan's Meeting House, Victorian reimaginings of the past and the glass and concrete functionalism of the modern day. The book examines how the architecture and history of Buckinghamshire's churches was not only fashioned and changed by developments in building and architectural innovation, but also the religious, political and social demands of the time, and how they have become integral to the cultural identity of England. This fascinating picture of an important part of the history of Buckinghamshire over the centuries will be of interest to all those who live in or are visiting this attractive county in England.

Bristol's importance in medieval England was demonstrated when it became the first borough in the country outside of London to be given county status in 1373. It has been one of the largest settlements in the kingdom since this time and the wealth brought through its port and industries spurred the building of numerous churches that has continued through the centuries. Churches of Bristol looks at a range of the city's churches, from early examples to recent years, telling the fascinating story of how they were built alongside some of the colourful history of the city, for both are intertwined. Included are those still standing in the original part of the city and more modern examples built in the suburbs for Bristol's growing population. Fully illustrated throughout, this captivating look at 'the City of Churches' will be of interest to all those who live in Bristol or are visiting the city.

The county of Warwickshire has a rich and varied past that is reflected in its historic churches. In Churches of Warwickshire, author and stained-glass artist Aidan McRae Thomson explores a selection of the most interesting churches across the whole of the county. Coventry has been included as it was part of the historic county and the buildings featured range from churches in the county town of Warwick and major settlements such as Nuneaton, Rugby and Leamington Spa to market towns, not least Stratford-upon-Avon, and villages, representing the many different architectural eras and styles to be found in Warwickshire's churches. The book covers a cross section of churches throughout the county, both well-known and those waiting to be discovered by a wider audience. This fascinating picture of an important part of the history of Warwickshire over the centuries will be of interest to all those who live in or are visiting this attractive county in England.

Sussex runs in an arc along the south coast of England. Inland from the coastal towns, the South Downs cross East and West Sussex. Although built up in places, much of the county is still rural, with a wide variety of churches dating back to Anglo-Saxon times. In Churches of Sussex author John E. Vigar presents a selection of the most interesting churches from across the county, covering every period and type of church, from late Anglo-Saxon churches such as Bosham, which appears on the Bayeux Tapestry, to Victorian churches such as the imposing St Bartholomew's in Brighton. Alongside Sussex's most well-known churches, unusual and lesser-known churches are also included among the many ecclesiastical gems in the county. This fascinating picture of an important part of the history of Sussex over the centuries will be of interest to all those who live in or are visiting this attractive county in England.

The county of Staffordshire has a rich and diverse past which is reflected in its historic churches. It has a varied landscape, from the conurbation of Stoke-on-Trent, the county town of Stafford and the cathedral city of Lichfield, to industrial towns such as Burton-upon-Trent, smaller market towns, agricultural land and the more sparsely populated areas of Cannock Chase and the Peak District. In Churches of Staffordshire, author Helen Harwood explores a selection of the most interesting churches across the whole of the county, both well known and those waiting to be discovered by a wider audience. The buildings range from rural and urban churches, dating from the medieval period to the modern age, covering various denominations, including the parish church of St Margaret's, Wolstanton, whose tower is the oldest building in the area; Pugin's Catholic churches, including his 'masterpiece' at Cheadle and Coven Methodist chapel, built in the 1830s, which is one of the oldest Wesleyan chapels in the county. Each has their own interesting story to tell. This fascinating picture of an important part of the history of Staffordshire over the centuries will be of interest to all those who live in or are visiting this attractive county in England.

- Will appeal to those interested in the history of Essex - Review coverage in local press and media - Author available to publicize the book

- Will appeal to those interested in the history of Bedfordshire - Review coverage in local press and media - Author lives locally and is available to publicise the book

Norfolk has long been recognised as one of the best counties in which to study parish churches. It has one of the highest densities of medieval churches in northern Europe reflecting its greater population and wealth in earlier times. It is also home to the largest number of round-towered churches in England and to more surviving medieval glass than most counties put together. Its towers and spires punctuate the open landscape and there are some churches from which you can see six or seven others. The building materials range from the local flint and carstone to imported limestones and brick. This diversity of material has led to a huge range of different styles of church – from tiny farmyard churches to those which feel as if they should be a cathedral even though they have probably never served more than a hundred people. This book will cover a cross section of churches throughout the county, both well-known and those waiting to be discovered by a wider audience. This fascinating picture of an important part of the history of Norfolk over the centuries will be of interest to all those who live in or are visiting this attractive county in England.

Suffolk boasts by far the greatest number of Domesday churches of any county surveyed by William the Conqueror in 1086. Over the centuries, many of these buildings have been renewed, enlarged and altered, whilst others have sadly disappeared either completely or partially from the landscape. Some of Suffolk's churches are more recent additions. The present-day churches of Suffolk, therefore, offer a diversity of styles of architecture and of construction, both inside and out. They range from flint round towers to whole buildings built using prefabricated cement blocks, from meticulously carved pew ends to flamboyant ceilings bursting with colour, and from angelic musicians to demonic wall paintings. For this book, the author presents a selection of not only the best of Suffolk churches but also the curious and intriguing, all of which tell the rich history of Suffolk and its people at prayer. This fascinating picture of an important part of the history of Suffolk over the centuries will be of interest to all those who live in or are visiting this attractive county in England.

The county of Cheshire has a rich and varied past which is reflected in its historic churches. In Churches of Cheshire , author David Paul explores a selection of the most interesting churches across the whole of the county. The buildings range from a church located in the heart of the city of Chester to market towns, villages and remote locations, and represent the many different architectural eras and styles to be found in Cheshire's churches. The book covers a cross-section of churches throughout the county, both well-known and those waiting to be discovered by a wider audience. This fascinating picture of an important part of the history of Cheshire over the centuries will be of interest to all those who live in or are visiting this attractive county in England.

Cornish churches are not simple structures that nestle into the landscape, but complex and little-understood buildings, with many never being completed. The recurrent picture, from some of the best church building accounts to survive in Britain, is that most Cornish churches were building yards when Henry VIII became head of the Church of England and set the Reformation in motion. This makes it hard to find perfect examples for particular architectural periods. Pevsner notes that the vast majority of church fabric is Perpendicular Gothic, with granite the material of choice by the sixteenth century. Tin, trade and farming fuelled this great rebuilding, with 140 of the 209 medieval Cornish parish churches still having Norman architectural features. Earlier Christian memorial stones and churchyard crosses were recycled as foundations. Georgian vandalism of church fabric, especially window tracery, is well documented, though Victorian restorations often went too far in trying to put things right. In this book author Joanna Mattingly explores a fascinating selection of churches from right across Cornwall in both urban and rural locations. Those featured include all Cornish dendro-dated churches and examples from each of the ten deaneries. From St Allen and St Austell to Tintagel and Truro, the author chronicles many engaging and insightful aspects of the county's ecclesiastical, architectural and social history. Illustrated throughout, Churches of Cornwall will be of immense interest to local historians, residents and visitors to the county.

- The latest in Amberley's new series on historic churches - Will appeal to those interested in the history of Hertfordshire - Review coverage in local press and media - Author available to publicize the book

Edinburgh was founded as a royal burgh by David I in the early twelfth century, though there had been a settlement on what became Castle Rock for centuries before that. King David is also thought to be responsible for the city's oldest building, a chapel built in honour of his mother, Queen Margaret, who was later declared a saint. Churches of Edinburgh looks at the city's churches, from this earliest surviving example to the award-winning Chapel of Saint Albert the Great, which opened some 900 years later. It tells their stories, discusses their architecture and points out their notable features, as well as outlining the important part that some of Edinburgh's churches have played in major events in Scottish history such as the Reformation or the National Covenant. The churches featured include, among many others, the ruined thirteenth-century abbey that was once a meeting place for the Scottish Parliament, the church that retains a seat for Queen Victoria and the one that has its own canal boat. There is also the story of the fifteenth-century church that was demolished in 1848 but was later partially rebuilt elsewhere, and that of the important artworks that lie hidden beneath the paintwork of another city church. This fascinating picture of an important part of the history of Edinburgh over the centuries will be of interest to all those who live in or are visiting Scotland's capital city.