The Complete Guide to the Parish Churches of Rutland

This is the companion volume to the author’s two volume book on Leicestershire Parish Churches, published in 2013. There are only 50 Anglican churches in Rutland, but their quality is amazing. Acre for acre there may be no comparable concentration in the British Isles for sheer variety and allure. Some are surprisingly grand for such a rural county, often that is epitomised by a soaring steeple, quite often with a very fine broach spire. At the other end of the scale, there are many small, modest churches, buried in the rich Rutland countryside. These usually possess a quaint bellcote and are as appealing in their own rustic way as their larger cousins. All the periods of English ecclesiastical architecture are represented, some more so than others, but in particular there are several important Norman survivals, especially some splendid arcades and Tickencote’s stunning chancel arch. Of Early English and Decorated churches there are many attractive examples, and later Perpendicular additions and remodellings added to the attractiveness of these buildings, demonstrated by many glorious clerestories and windows. The hand of the Victorian restorer touched almost every church to a greater or lesser extent, and it may be argued that some buildings were diminished by their attentions, but others were undoubtedly saved and still more were given striking features, particularly in the chancels. So, here are 50 lovely churches to explore and revisit again and again.

Velox Books 2014, softback, 113pp. Size: A4. Cost £15.00, free delivery, available direct from the author. Or from Amazon (and sometimes Ebay); also Walkers bookshops in Oakham and Stamford. A companion volume to The Parish Churches of Leicestershire, sharing the same format. All 50 of Rutland's Parish Churches are described and illustrated with around 1500 of the author's superb full colour photographs. Foreword by the Bishop of Peterborough.