Bradford-on-Avon: The tiny Anglo-Saxon church of St Laurence (click to enlarge)
It is said that to walk through a parish church is to walk through the history of England, and there are over 16,000 parish churches in England which collectively embody over 1500 years of that history. Often they are the oldest functioning building in a community, and preserve the memory and commemoration of that community and its members, but they are also living buildings, with new stories to tell and new purposes to fulfil.
From tiny chapels on remote hillsides to towering urban edifices of stone and glass, each parish church forms part of the tapestry of our collective past and present and they are a wonderful way of exploring and getting to know an area and its history. They may be spectacular examples of the work of world-famous architects or artists, or they may be more unassuming, 'lived in' buildings whose creators may be known only to God, but which are central to the life story of their community.
Our resources are designed to help you get the most from visiting these buildings and exploring the art, architecture, objects and history of faith they contain, whether you are visiting your first or your thousandth church. You can build your knowledge and take it from church to church, discovering more in each building as you go.
Doddiscombleigh stained glass: 15th century panel depicting baptism (click to enlarge)
There are many useful organisations and websites to help you begin your journey of discovery and we have listed some that we know well here. All have wonderful images of churches to inspire you and to enable you either to plan where to go, or to enjoy a virtual exploration from the comfort of your own home.
Please note, these websites are, in our opinion, very good resources, but they are not under the control of Christianity and Culture and we are not responsible for the views expressed or the content they contain.
The Warwick Network for Parish Research
An excellent research network on all aspects of parish history based at Warwick University, with lots of links to other resources.
http://www.sacred-destinations.com
This is an ecumenical guide to more than 1,250 sacred sites, holy places, pilgrimage destinations, religious architecture and sacred art in over 60 countries around the world.
http://www.britainexpress.com
A travel site celebrating Britain's heritage, with guides, photographs and lots of useful links
http://www.visitchurches.org.uk
The website for The Churches Conservation Trust who care for over 340 outstanding churches no longer in regular use for worship.
http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk
http://www.suffolkchurches.co.uk
A linked pair of sites showcasing some of the glories of the churches of Norfolk and Suffolk.
From: The English Parish Church
Extract from an 18 minute introduction to St Helen's, Ranworth, an astonishingly beautiful and fascinating Norfolk parish church, by Professor Eamon Duffy (University of Cambridge). The film features a detailed explanation of the remarkable images on the medieval roodscreen and of the illuminated antiphoner used by the choir, bringing alive the story of this wonderful church including the glories of the Middle Ages and the impact of the Reformation.
From: The English Parish Church
A 3D visualisation detailing the interior development of a typical English parish church. The visualisation shows the architectural and decorative development between the Decorated- and Perpendicular-style buildings.
The English Parish Church DVD-ROM features many more interior and exterior development models.
Click on a product below to find out more about content and how to purchase. For orders of more than 10 copies, please see our bulk orders page.
