A Little History Of The English Country Church [Paperback]

Periodically books are written on the subject of the parish churches in England. The wealth of beautiful churches that this country has is one of the most unappreciated aspects of England's architectural heritage and many urban and rural parishes are struggling in the upkeep of these edifices, some of which are of cathedral like proportions to services villages of a few hundred. This is the motivation that Roy Strong states in his introduction for writing this book - to highlight the country church's plight and highlight the challenges we will face to preserve them in the twenty first century. Whereas the twentieth century saw the preservation of the country house, the twenty first century will have to deal with the challenge of preserving the parish church building.

The book is however mainly an overview of the way that the building and in particular the furnishings of English parish churches have changed from the early medieval era which saw church interiors lavishly decorates and furnished through the period of the Reformation and the Commonwealth which saw the destruction of a massive amount of church art and furnishings which tracked the interpretation of Protestant theology in its manifestation in the decoration and liturgy of the parish church. The book describes in vivid detail the rituals and ceremonies at the heart of the parish throughout history tracing their changes with the contemporary religious and political events that occurred in England, particularly momentous events such as the Reformation and subtle changes brought about by the Oxford Movement in the mid nineteenth century which has shaped the liturgy and decoration of modern parish churches to this day.

The book however is popularist rather than academic. In that sense it is a pretty easy read and the plethora of illustrations including well know examples of surviving medieval furnishings makes this a solid read. However, the academics may wince a little bit at the presumptions that are made and conclusions that are drawn. However, reading the book does not really answer the issues raised in the introduction - namely how will the English parish church survive in the twenty-first century and beyond? Strong has a one or two ideas in the epilogue - namely more of a community use for the building. But this does leave the reader a little unsatisfied, making the book feel like a good overall history of the parish church surrounded by an introduction and conclusion which does not fit the subject matter in the middle of the book.

The author of this book, Sir Roy Strong, former Director of the National Portrait Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum, is also a broadcaster, and has written a number of bestselling books which include The Story of Britain, The Cult of Elizabeth and The Spirit of Britain.

This book attempts to narrate the complex history and development of the English parish church "...from the first buildings erected in Anglo-Saxon times to its uncertain future in the twenty-first century." That is to undertake quite a task and the author has made a jolly good job of it!

The book has been described as a "richly illustrated elegy, and a plea for the preservation of the country church." Indeed, Strong's book really is both at once a celebration of the English country church - and a passionate plea for its conservation. The author entertainingly and anecdotally relates the dramatic ebb and flow of the English parish church, through its various epochs and vicissitudes.

The reader really does feel as though he or she is actually engaged in a voyage through time; from the arrival of those Catholic missionaries who systematically erected crosses here and there to mark the places where they preached, to the beautiful architecture and aureate pseudo-spirituality of medieval Christianity; from the tumult of the Reformation to the times of the 'squarson', the sedate, gentrified type of cleric we encounter in the works of Jane Austen: we are swept along on a journey of discovery and rediscovery.

This book is an enlightening and an invigorating yarn and this reviewer can heartily commend it to prospective readers.

Michael Calum Jacques

An easy-to-read and informative book which tracks the changes upon church architecture and interior furnishings which were the result of continuous intervention from the monarchy (think Henry VIII) and notable reformers (think eg Wesley).I would have happily paid more for a book with better quality illustrations as some are indistinct and do not support the excellent text.