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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favourite book of all time, 14 Mar 2004
By A Customer
If you've ever looked at an English Parish Church and thought that all those acres of hideous Victorian stained glass, the uncomfortable pitch-pine pews, tattered flags, vile floor tiles and all the other dreadful furnishings and fittings inflicted on it by some 19th century ‘restorer’ (or should that be despoiler?) were part of the normal run of history, then read Mark Chatfield’s beautiful little book and weep. Yes, the photos may be black and white and not in 'glorious technicolour’, but don’t let that put you off because, be your interest in church architecture or English social/church history, this is likely to be one of the most instructive, even moving, books you’ll ever read.Chatfield’s passion is clearly for the pre-Victorian churches, full of clear glass, box pews and triple-decker pulpits which he describes here in loving detail, taking the reader to some of the remotest corners of the country, down farm tracks and across fields to churches, too often now redundant and in the care of the State, the National Trust, CCT or other charities, but which show how much was lost amidst the orgy of Victorian destruction. You’ll find the famous – Whitby and Minstead – but also many other wonderful churches, little-known outside their own locality, and like me, you too will probably want to set off on a pilgrimage around England to visit all of them yourself (invest in a good map, you’ll need it!) All in all, I can’t recommend this glorious book too highly.
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