John Betjeman On Churches

by Jonathan Glancey

The best-loved of English poets, John Betjeman (1906-1984) was also a great champion of British heritage and his legacy lives on, not just in his poetry, but in his diaries, broadcasts, and letters. He famously campaigned to save many church buildings, and his work encouraged a greater appreciation of overlooked Victorian churches and architects. Illustrated with black and white photographs and accompanied by Glancey's amusing editorial notes, this is a beautiful book for enthusiasts of Betjeman, and people similarly passionate about conservation and restoration.

Genres: Architecture

160 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2007

Reviews

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took this with me to read on the train down to London. It kept me very well amused. It’s added both to my reading list and to my churches-to-visit list. A delight of a book.

[Andrea Engle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A psalm of praise for English Church Architecture ... a series of essays, each reflecting on a letter by Sir John Betjeman to various recipients, from T. S. Eliot to Edward Heath ... discusses the architects and creators of English Churches, from St Mary's Uffington to Guildford Cathedral ... dipping at times into church-inspired poetry ... assisted by black-and-white photographs ... a delightful book ...