Timpson's Country Churches

by John Timpson

In this lively, often surprising tour of200 English country churches, John Timpson's exquisite sense of the peculiar provides us with a rich seam of historic lore and legend. There are unexpected discoveries and curiosities revealing a thousand years of parish a church that moved two miles and left its chancel behind, wing feathers left by the Archangel Gabriel, a tower nearly stolen by the Devil, golden piglets nestled high in a church's roof beams, and a weathervane fashioned as a bed bug. With200 splendid color photos, this is an affectionate look at the marvels and historical oddities of English country churches. Among the author's previous books are Timpson's England, Timpson's English Country Inns, and Timpson's English Villages.

Paperback

First published March 1, 1998

About the author

John Harry Robert Timpson OBE was a British journalist, best known as a radio presenter.

His experiences in broadcasting provided Timpson with material for several books: "Today and Yesterday" (1976), "The Lighter Side of Today" (1983) and "The Early Morning Book" (1986). After his retirement from the BBC he returned to Norfolk and continued writing, especially about England and East Anglia in particular. These included a novel "Paper Trail" published in 1989 and two works on the quirks and oddities of English life - "Timpson's England" (1987) and "Timpson's Towns" (1989). Subsequent books included "Timpson’s English Villages" (1992), "Timpson’s Other England (1993)", "Timpson’s English Country Inns" (1995) and "Timpson on the Verge" (2002).

In 1987 he was awarded an OBE for his services to broadcasting.

Reviews

[Elaine Meszaros · Rating 5 out of 5]

ny of my fellow Anglophiles will love this collection of country churches, collected by former BBC news reporter John Timpson. Each church is featured with a short description of the most unique features and a photo or two. The tidbits of fascinating history Timpson ferreted out are not your standard historical c.v. Instead, he finds strange architectural features like stained glass windows featured the Magi wearing kilts, one-handed clocks and decor created by over-enthusiastic (and unskilled) Victorian clergy. He mentions notables buried in various churches, from crusaders to paupers. His tone is both interested in amused, quoting the brochure from one church that breathlessly starts every description of the church with "one of the finest..." A lovely book to read cover-to-cover to bob in and out of.