Customer Reviews

Comments by Michael Calum Jacques author of '1st Century Radical'. - By: Michael Calum Jacques, 21 Nov 2008
This is both a beautiful & an informative book; these two qualities do not always grace the same volume! Anybody who loves genuinely quaint, remote & simply curious little churches & chapels should savour this book by Richard Surman.

It includes features upon some of Britain & Ireland's most fascinating churches, with each one guarding its own secret(s) which could be anything from artwork, carvings, stories, legends or simply an architectural peculiarity. This book includes hundreds of beautiful photographs of the featured buildings, along with maps showing their location & a useful, illustrated glossary.

The secrets of these churches cover aeons of time & the book features examples like the remote Romney Marsh churches or St Cwyfan's, perched on its rocky islet on the coast of Anglesey. Each one has its own story to reveal, like the seaside churchin Whitby whose roof was constructed by local shipwrights. The author presents articles on 250 churches from all over the British Isles.

Additionally, this book is a genuinely pleasant read, leaving the reader with a positive 'feel good' factor, if that makes sense! There are various books about the wonderful churches to be seen & relishedin the UK & Eire, & this is one of the better ones.

Michael Calum Jacques