Churches and Churchyards of England and Wales

Download or read book Churches and Churchyards of England and Wales written by Richard Hayman and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2019-05-30 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The parish church is a symbol of continuity, a cornerstone of the urban and rural landscape, and a treasure trove often as rich in cultural history as any museum. This compact and accessible guide explores all of these aspects of the parish church, beginning by examining why churches are built where they are, and going on to explain how both church buildings and churchyards have changed over time. It also describes their fixtures and furnishings, including fonts, screens, stained glass and monuments, explaining the ritual and symbolic purpose of these features and how their significance has shifted over time. Lavishly illustrated with colour photographs, this book will provide an indispensable primer for anyone who is curious about the nation's parish churches and wants to explore them further.