The Times Book of Church Cats

by Richard Surman

Following the success of Cathedral Cats, Richard Surman's new book promises to be even more appealing with the beautiful cat portraits it captures. Richard Surman has toured the ecclesiastical sites of Britain photographing cats in abbeys, priories, churches and minsters. For this book he has focused on the larger, close-up portraits of cats, making it a sumptuous coffee table book, with plenty of lovable characters. Each of the 20 chapters begins with a line drawing of the church, followed by 2 or 3 photographs of the cats that live there. Richard Surman tells their stories with sensitive and often humorous commentary.

Genres: Nonfiction, Cats, Animals, Photography

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Richard Surman is a British writer and photographer, working from the UK and Spain. He specializes in all types of location photography and works with a wide range of multinational corporate, editorial, advertising and design clients. He has published a number of books and also collaborated on a wide range of travel, gardening and specialist guide books, as well as contributing to magazines in the UK, USA and Spain.

Reviews

[Ashley Bowers · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published in 1999, there’s something deeply nostalgic about this series for me, even though I can’t quite say why. Surman seems to have found the best job in the world— visiting beautiful buildings, listening to endearing stories, and, most importantly, meeting the beautiful feline cast at the heart of them.

This book was a balm while I’ve been sick this week. I did wish there were more historical details about the churches featured, but it’s especially heartwarming to read of the cats finding their homes here. I’ll revisit this many times for the photos alone. I love cats.

[Adrienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has lovely pictures and fun little stories. It was good entertainment during a Colloquia.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming book, with lovely little tales of cats that reside in and have claimed ownership of English church yards.

A 'I could read over and over ' little book. Would love to read others in the series

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and interesting look at some church cats in the UK. Somehow, I don't think church cats are nearly as much of a phenomenon in the US -- the only one I remember hearing about was Elocution, a fictional cat in the Rita Mae Brown/Sneaky Pie Brown mysteries.

[K.N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

My cat-loving boss handed me this to look at. It was cute. It was only a smidgen wordier than a calendar, but that's okay. Cats!