England's Thousand Best Churches (original 1999; edição 2000)

Lavish, extensive survey of churches in England, with the criteria that the church must be readily accessible to the public -- something you don't see often, but is very practical. A great deal of photos from "Country Life" add to the pleasure of the book, and the "reviews" of the churches are very chatty. The author doesn't think much of Victorian "improvements," to be sure! ( )

In the shadow of Betjeman, Pevsner and Clifton-Taylor, the former editor of theThe Times and Evening Standard set aside 4 years, and whittled down a shortlist of over 2000 churches to put together this 'catalogue' of what he sees as a great gallery of vernacular art. The Church of England is 'the true museum of England', and this book, a genuine labour of love, is much more than just a dry guidebook to architectural curiosities. Arranged by county from Bedfordshire to Yorkshire, with fine illustrations, Jenkins's highly personal descriptions flesh out alphabetical listings of each noteworthy church, and each county section is introduced with a map

This excellent survey celebrates the classic beauty, quirky individuality, and 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.

Jenkins has produced a rich tome here which is just about small enough to take around with you. He hasn't just sat in his armchair and written this one. He has actually visited all of the Churches in the book. For added value we also have classic photography from the country life archive ( )