English Parish Churches

by Edwin George Herbert Smith (Photographer), Olive Cook, Graham Hutton

English Parish Churches [Hardcover] Smith, Edwin; Cook, Olive; Hutton, Graham

Genres: Architecture

252 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Edwin George Herbert Smith (15 May 1912 – 29 December 1971) was an English photographer. He is best known for his distinctive vignettes of English gardens, landscapes, and architecture. On his own or in partnership with his wife, the artist and writer Olive Cook, he authored or contributed to numerous books.

Reviews

[Patrick\ · Rating 4 out of 5]

After experiencing St. Lawrence in Bradford-on-Avon (thanks to an Aunt who lives there), I understand how parishoners in the Middle Ages didn't go INTO church, they WENT to church. Tiny nave, almost a minature. The Market Cross gave open-air freshness to the Mass. Cullompton, Devon is a treasure, but Ottery St. Mary is a strange but impressive hodgepodge of period styles - thankfully few of later times. Most impressive are the Norman churches which replaced the crude, small structures of the Saxons. William got the Brits off their asses and pounding stone - magnificently. It is only in the Victorian Gothic Revival that it all falls apart - mimicking the decorate-every-surface excesses of Byzantium didn't work. It is the bells that still move me most. Small village, stone church, set of working bells. A fine little survey book, tons of churches (literally), and photos galore.