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How to Read a Church
 
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How to Read a Church [Illustrated] (Hardcover)

by Dr. Richard Taylor (Author)
3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
RRP: £25.00
Price: £16.37 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Frequently Bought Together

How to Read a Church + The Church Explorer's Handbook + Pocket Guide to How to Read a Church
Price For All Three: £34.94

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Rider & Co; Illustrated edition edition (2 Sep 2004)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1844132382
  • ISBN-13: 978-1844132386
  • Product Dimensions: 24.6 x 19.4 x 2.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 248,000 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #97 in  Books > Art, Architecture & Photography > Architecture > Types of Architecture > Religious Buildings

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Product Description

Product Description

Churches and cathedrals play an essential part in our heritage. As community-centred places of worship and as important tourist attractions, they are visited by millions of people each year. But churches were originally built to be read, and so are packed with images, symbols and meanings that often need explanation. This book will unlock all the treasures they contain. Described by Christopher Howse in the Daily Telegraph as 'a handy crash course in church literacy', the first edition of this unique and accessible guide to the common symbols and meanings in church art and architecture became a bestseller on first publication. Now this fascinating and lively book is available in a new illustrated edition. Over 100 stunning colour photographs represent the very best in church architecture - from paintings, fonts and altars, to pew ends, choir stalls and stained glass windows. It is the ultimate reference for anybody who wants to know more about what they see in a church or cathedral from the significance of church layouts, the symbolism of key scenes and the importance of details, to the use of colours and letters.


About the Author

Richard Taylor was born in 1967. He studied English at Cambridge University and Law at London University, and now lives and works as a lawyer in Sheffield. He has lectured on Christian symbolism to people of many faiths and those of none. This book was inspired by their enthusiastic reactions.

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

How to Read a Church
68% buy the item featured on this page:
How to Read a Church 3.7 out of 5 stars (10)
£16.37
The Church Explorer's Handbook
12% buy
The Church Explorer's Handbook 5.0 out of 5 stars (4)
£10.30
Pocket Guide to How to Read a Church
11% buy
Pocket Guide to How to Read a Church 4.3 out of 5 stars (3)
£8.27
England's Thousand Best Churches
5% buy
England's Thousand Best Churches 4.4 out of 5 stars (8)
£9.06
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Customer Reviews

10 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The book does what it says in the title, 21 Feb 2005
This review is from: How to Read a Church: A Guide to Images, Symbols and Meanings in Churches and Cathedrals (Hardcover)
I enjoyed reading this book and will refer to it often in the future. One of my pleasures is to visit cathederals and churches to appreciate the architecture, the history and place in communiy - but I had little detailed knowledge.

This book covers a wide variety of topics, some of which are: the orientation of the church; types of halos (5 are well illustrated using clear line drawings); the masons designs of gargoyles; the roles of Jesus, Mary and the Saints (as a non practicing Christian this was very useful); it even has a descriptive drawings of the vestments of bishops and priests (and how many of you know what a Rochet or an Alb is, and who wears it).

The writing style is informative and economical - no wasted words, but the ideas and knowledge are conveyed well

The copy I got from Amazon is hard cover, but is easy to carry as it is only approx 135 mm by 210 mm with 246 pages. The photos are in black and white.

This book is a bargain - buy it.

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48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A feast for the eye, 7 Oct 2004
By mary (London) - See all my reviews
I had a copy of the original version of this book - its really interesting and describes the main images and symbols seen in Western Churches and makes a visit to these buildings so much more enjoyable and rewarding. Its also a good read in its own right. Many of the main biblical stories are retold (and the images associated with them explained) and the author also sets out some of the other stories about biblical characters that are more myth (that is they are not in the bible) which can be depicted in churches. This new edition seems to be more or less the same text but looks and feels completely different. It is larger (more a book to leave at home than one to take with you on a tourist trip), well designed with lots of colour photographs of the images exlained in the text. It is a real feast for the eye and would make a good present for anyone who likes making visits to churches and cathedrals.
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22 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Misteries explained, 18 Jan 2004
This review is from: How to Read a Church: A Guide to Images, Symbols and Meanings in Churches and Cathedrals (Hardcover)
I've worked for the Church of England for nearly 4 years now, and I still get confused with the jargon, and sometimes feel that I really should know more about the churches lingo. I use this book as a reference guide and have found it to be useful in explaining some of the things that I get confused over.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Decorative and fine art History
Informative and well researched book although more illustrations would have added to the understanding of the detail within.
Published 1 month ago by Diana

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating mine of information
This book sets out to explain churches to people who don't know much about them, and even some who do. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mr. M. Bennet

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating subject and well written book
I'm no church historian and not religious in any way, but I found this book totally absorbing and fascinating as an explanation of the imagery and decoration found in churches. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Bookworm

3.0 out of 5 stars Great pictures - less background data
My view of the book is that the pictures are beautiful and it has a lot of content, but I would have preferred more details on the different subjects. Read more
Published on 23 Oct 2007 by Evelyn Rulffs

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
This book is a well known so I made the mistake of buying on line without checking the contents. It's full of arcane items that most churches don't contain, and misses out so many... Read more
Published on 28 Jun 2007 by Fr Mark

3.0 out of 5 stars useful reference
A useful reference book for the vistor to churches who wants to know more.
Published on 25 Jan 2006

1.0 out of 5 stars How to read a church
The book has been written by a commited Christian, and several beliefs are stated as 'though they are facts- e.g. Read more
Published on 15 Oct 2005

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