Secret Churches 1st (first) Edition by Surman, Richard published by Collins

by Richard Surman

The churches of the British Isles are a unique showcase of craftsmanship and offer an intriguing glimpse into Christianity down the centuries. Featuring over 250 churches, Richard Surman's tour takes in some of the most notable examples.

Unknown Binding

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

[Richard Newbold · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a potpourri of the author's favourite "secret" churches, which is delightfully ill-defined, but all have a certain something - charm, historical connection, atmosphere - which qualifies them for inclusion in this exceptionally well presented book. Each church (or chapel - especially welcome is the inclusion of churches outside the established religion) has a photograph of the outside or interior and brief but informative text to complete the picture. I've spent many a year vainly trying to perfect the art of church photography - I'm pleased to see that the author's efforts are splendid and usually the exterior shots make the profusion of surrounding shrubbery often encountered a virtue by establishing the setting beautifully.

Most interesting is to check the mood changing tone as the location heads north and west - many northern and Scottish churches have a dour almost military magnificence, and beautiful ruined monasteries over in Ireland, endlessly raided by seaborne invaders over the years.

By the author's own admission, the spread of "secret churches" is uneven and reflects his own interests and experiences, thus the inclusion of many Herefordshire churches which he knew as a boy. My own patch in the East Midlands is virtually absent - I could name a dozen or more churches within twenty miles of where I am sitting well suitable for inclusion - but I'll forgive Mr Surman his partiality as the book is a splendid and informative read.