England's Cathedrals

by Simon Jenkins

'Inspired . . . encourages us to take a fresh look at the familiar' - The Times

England's cathedrals are the nation's glory. They tower over its landscape, outranking palaces, castles and mansions. They attract roughly half the nation's population each year. For a millennium they have been objects of pilgrimage for those seeking faith, consolation and beauty. Still at the start of the twenty-first century, they remain unequalled in their size and splendour.

More than any other English institution, cathedrals reflect the vicissitudes of history and should be treasured as such. They are custodians of culture and of the rituals of civic life. They offer welfare and relieve suffering. They uplift spirits with their beauty. In a real sense they are still what they were when first built a millennium ago, a glimpse of the sublime.

Gloriously illustrated throughout, England's Cathedrals not only offers us a companion to England's Thousand Best Churches , it takes us on an enthralling tour of the nation and its history, through some of our most astonishing buildings.

Genres: Nonfiction, Architecture, Reference, History, Art, Religion

384 pages, Hardcover

Published December 6, 2016

About the author

Sir Simon David Jenkins, FSA, FRSL is the author of the international bestsellers England’s Thousand Best Churches and England’s Thousand Best Houses, the former editor of The Times and Evening Standard and a columnist for the Guardian. He is chairman of the National Trust.

Reviews

[Richard Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inevitably it is limited in the descriptions of the cathedrals but they are well based and learned and disagreeing with them is a challenge which must not be ducked. Simon Jenkins doesn't shrink from judgements and so much the better. The book is a comprehensive survey and covers all English cathedrals. The illustrations are on occasions scant and don't show the best features of the cathedrals but this doesn't detract from the enjoyment.

[Joanne Mango · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Medieval cathedral is the most spectacular and lasting accomplishment of the English people" declares Jenkins in his first sentence of this catalogue of these architectural wonders. What follows is a weighty, beautiful gallop through all 42 Anglican cathedrals, 26 of them Medieval, and a selection of Roman Catholic post emancipation constructions (of course pre-Reformation all state ecclesiastical buildings were RC). As a casual enthusiast of the built landscape our ancestors have left us, which I see as our collective history and containing so much artistic and spiritual heritage, this is a book I have had for a long time and enjoyed 'dipping into' on occasion for the beautiful photographs and informative portraits of these towering monuments.

On reading the whole book through I found myself captivated and immersed as I time-travelled via Jenkins' descriptions to many of these places I have been to at various times in my life, and of course time-travelling to the future as I found myself writing lists of places I had visitied, or must visit (or re-visit). This felt at times nostalgic as I remembered my own experiences and the people I have visited them with, as I reflected on the huge legacy that dominates our cities, each with their own quirks and treasures.

I grew to enjoy Jenkins' often biting judgements, as this made the book more interesting, although I found myself feeling defensive of his scathing comments of my home city and it's "bleakly expanded" new town! Jenkins' comments can be amusingly dramatic . Worcester is described as "heaven and...hell" depending on whether you are viewing the cathedral from the cricket fields or the dual carriageway"! In a world of so much accessible information, much of it factual amd bland (and the advance of ai 😞 ) I actually found it refreshing to read things that were so opinionated and human (although pretty rude and snobbish at times too!).

When Jenkins says that the best way to view the roof bosses of Norwich is to lie on a bench with binoculars I felt like I had been commanded! Although perhaps controversial I enjoyed his star rating scheme, and his selection of his top three cathedrals which he calls 'the three graces' (Ely, Lincoln and Wells). It was just heartening to read something that felt enthusiastic and passionate rather than blandly indifferent, and the topic of 'favourite cathedral'is probably a conversation I would possibly only exhaust in myself (Peterborough, Durham and Lincoln would be my top three, with the loyalty of someone who has lived in Peterborough most of her life, and who still sees something new and exciting on each visit). I love the robustness and regularity of the dominating Norman structures, and also they are a reminder of a terrible time in history.

Jenkins writes with knowledge of architectural features which can at times feel inaccessible (although he does provide a glossary) and provides interesting historical context to each building. He also shows interest and love for much of the art found in these great structures, from Medieval carvings and paintings through Victorian stained glass and much modern sculpture. I was left feeling (slightly) more attentive to the works of people I was much less aware of such as Ninian Comper. C E Kempe. Elizabeth Frink and Eric Gill and I have found that this has greatly enhanced my own visits. Jenkins also mentions the great achievement of the modern tapestries and other needlecraft of the 20th century and of course the function of cathedrals as art gallery and museum where great artists and crafts people's work may be displayed alongside that of local children which is another of the joys of visiting.

Some of my trips have been enhanced by reading this book first (i.e. paying the extra to visit the trifoeium gallery at St Paul's).

Finally I enjoyed Jenkins' amusing personification of the cathedrals , Westminster Abbey is a "batty old woman" , Southwark a "lost French tourist"....For anyone with an interest this is a great book from which to travel to these buildings from the comfort of your armchair, although it is also a book that has accompanied me on some of my actual visits to stand myself before (or on top of) these mighty stone giants in my own awe and wonder.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

c2016 (3). I can't say it better than The TImes ie ''Inspired . . . encourages us to take a fresh look at the familiar'. Lovely pictures and some succinct comments on architecture in general. Definitely worth having a look at. "Chichester is a friendly, popular cathedral."

[Jenny McHugh · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is well presented and contains many nuggets of interesting information. The photography is well done and similarly well presented. However, it is, at times, confusing when trying to understand the author's purpose in writing. Is Jenkins approaching this from a historical perspective or as an appreciator of architecture or as a high-brow tour guide? The star rating of the various cathedrals seems somewhat arbitrary, which Jenkins himself conveys in his introduction, so the reader can’t help asking why he included it. It’s also obvious what his preferences without them given the amount that he chooses to write about each building is sporadic. It would have been interesting to perhaps have more historical context surrounding each building, for example he uses the phrase ‘the three graces’ consistently but never explains its meaning. He also draws many comparisons to Bath Abbey – a building he fails to include. Yet, as an easy read of historic buildings it was enjoyable.

[Christina Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up thinking it would be a mini-coffee table book with boilerplate descriptions. I was wrong. Mr. Jenkins has *definite* opinions on the cathedrals, and does not hold back. Chelsmord is "like a cheery old lady carrying rather too much baggage for her years."

And poor Coventry: The war wasn't Coventry's fault, "What happened next is a different matter. While Germany rebuilt many of its ancient city centres bombed by the British, Coventry's city fathers demolished most of what the bombs left standing , compounding destruction by war with destruction by planning. ...Few visit Coventry. It is a desolation of car parks, underpasses, shopping centres, and warehouses. "

Although, to my eye, the ruins of the old cathedral. linked by the same variety of stone to the new, is quite striking.

He loves Salisbury: "To most Britons, Salisbury embodies the ideal of the English cathedral... it is regularly voted the nation's favourite view, adorning a million jigsaw puzzles and biscuit tins. When John Constable, custodian of the Salisbury vision, first caught sight of its spire he recalled it 'darted up into the sky like a needle', its silver stone seeming to sparkle. He worshipped it for the rest of his life, and the world said amen." Wow.

Winchester has an amazing "Galleon at anchor", Waynflete's chantry.

I didn't realize that cathedrals are still being updated. York, for example, had a fire in 1984, and new bosses were carved showing "man on the moon" and "save the whales."

My only nitpick is that this ought to be a coffee table book. Space does not permit as many photos as would be needed even just for the features mentioned. To be fair, a full catalogue would be a bookcase. Have your laptop open so you can explore along with Jenkins.

Now, go visit a cathedral! Look at the bosses, and the carvings!

[Philip William · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look at both the Church of England and the Roman Catholic cathedrals of England.

The book is best when dealing with the history of each Cathedral but I was bored by the commentary on each of the architecture.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to have in hand when touring England’s great cathedrals, and in these days of shrivelled travel, a comforting reminder of past travels or a peek at hoped-for future ones

[David Bisset · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not always agree with Simon's appraisal, but will certainly read his perceptive comments prior to a cathedral visit. The illustrations are superb.