Pocket Guide to How to Read a Church

by Richard Taylor

With colour photos throughout showing key details and features, this is a handy version of the bestselling How to Read a Church which explains the many images, symbols and other features in church architecture, furnishings and works of art.

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

304 pages, Paperback

First published July 3, 2003

About the author

Richard Taylor is a professor of English and currently serves as Kenan Visiting Writer at Transylvania University. A former Kentucky poet laureate, he is the author of six collections of poetry, two novels, and several books of non-fiction, mostly relating to Kentucky history. A former dean and teacher in the Governor's Scholars Program, he was selected as Distinguished Professor at Kentucky State University in 1992. He has won two creative writing fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and an Al Smith Creative Writing Award from the Kentucky Arts Council. He and his wife Lizz own Poor Richard's Books in Frankfort, Kentucky.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not even a Christian but I love old churches and cathedrals (also hymns, by the way), especially the fact that everything in them has a meaning, often lost in time. This book helps you to find those hidden meanings.

[Pedro Pascoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was probably expecting more from this book than it actually contained. I should have likely obtained a book that explained, or at least pretended to explain the more esoteric, alchemic ways of reading churches. But then again I probably read too much Lovecraft.
This book lays out the symbolic used Christian churches use stories from the Bible, colours, animals, letters, etc, and what the symbols refer to. In that regard it is a decent reference book for just such a purpose. Rather than this book being a guide to 'reading' a church, it is more along the lines of a 'dictionary' of symbolic usage of church imagery, and outside of following images directly relating to stories in the Bible, you're more or less matching this image to that entry. So I was perhaps a little let down there with more of a promise in the title than the book actually delivered. This book does reinforce the visual nature of a church, which does dovetail nicely into my medieval readings. I would have personally liked more of a 'walkthrough' on some of the more complex medieval stonework in surviving cathedrals across Europe, whereas, understandably perhaps, the photographs concentrate largely on English churches, and a fair proportion of that on stained glass images.
I did struggle with a comment early on in the book in the opening chapter, where Taylor does make the point of churches being places of worship, and his assertion of the 'spiritual power (being) their essence.' He goes on to say, "Admiring a church for its beauty or history alone is like admiring a Monet for its frame." As essentially an agnostic, with an interest in mythologies, this comment kept thrumming around in my head. My initial reaction was, Well, there goes all those years of visiting cathedrals around the world, because evidently I'm doing it wrong (heavy on the sarcasm there). I then thought of the Hacienda, that notorious Manchester nightclub, that I'd read about in Peter Cook's excellent book. And while no longer being able to visit the club, as the building no longer exists (having been knocked down with apartments being built on the location, I am given to understand), I would have loved to have been able to visit the place, for its history and its importance to DJ culture and Madchester. But, of course, the magic happened because of what took place inside while it was a nightclub. And that 'magic' has never happened for me in a church or cathedral. So while the point is taken that indeed I may be 'appreciating the frame' moreso than the Monet, I also understand that Monet is not everyone's magic, and there are many more paintings in the gallery for us all to appreciate, so go to where your magic happens.
Now to look for books on the alchemical reading of medieval churches.

[Einar Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As part of the research for my current project, I read Richard Taylor’s How to Read a Church. It is a fascinating resource for interpreting not only the architecture and artwork of Christian churches, but also detail as “small” as the uniform of a priest. Taylor’s primary thesis is that visual art and symbols in churches were not necessarily designed for illiterate audiences because most of the images required pre-existing knowledge of the stories to be understood. That’s why I read his book; I sought more explanations of symbols in Christian paintings to understand them better. Instead of speaking to the illiterate members of a congregation, Taylor argues effectively, images created a shared educational and mental space where kings and peasants could have access to the same material. Colors, animals, orders of angels... it’s all so interesting and accessible in this engaging book.

[Salina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this as I absolutely adore cathedrals in any form. I have a degree in art history but they often glossed over the small details in class so this book filled in a lot of the gaps.

[Dave]

I was recommended this book on a course about architectural conservation. It was supposed to be a guide to the basics of church architecture nomenclature and features. There are one or two other books with a similar title, and I think I was recommended the wrong book by mistake, because this doesn't serve that purpose.

This is a concise guide to Christian symbolism in general e.g. such-and-such saint is represented by a sword or a key or pictured as an old man or a young man. These descriptions are focused more on biblical stories and meanings than, for example sectarian or geographical differences in usage, or changes in usage over time, although all of these are mentioned in passing here and there.

Not a bad book, but not the one I wanted and lacking general interest for me.

[Alan Draycott · Rating 4 out of 5]

We visit churches but don't understand. That's not just in a theological sense but also in the wonder of their beauty and meaning of the art work within. This book helps us understand what we see. Lots of it is a simple retelling of key scenes and characters so we remember what they did and how they are represented but throughout the book there are also lovely titbits of facts that make you think...of course. In that way it can be very much like reading the Bible. Of course. 10000 self help books can be replaced by 1 and publishers would have to find new books to promote.

[Evan H. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not particularly good, with very simplistic descriptions of history and theology. The illustrations can add confusion rather than clarity. Instead of this book, I would recommend the similarly named "How to Read Churches" by Denis R. McNamara.

[RJC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating, good for reference.

[Calenmarwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book to help readers interpret church architecture and decoration. Some passages made me laugh, and I feel I learnt lots of interesting trivia.

[Snakeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read full of facts about church and the Bible.

[Summer Bohannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Handy primer on symbolism and art in churches - would definitely recommend to anyone planning a visit to the Old World.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Five years ago, I found this book in the gift shop of Westminster Abbey but did not buy it. I then spent the next 5 weeks regretting that decision as we traveled through Europe and visited innumerable churches. I remember checking each of their gift shops to see if they had a copy but never found one. I am an atheist but I do like churches and have a strange interest in Christian history and theology, and this book would have been a great guide on that trip. So, when I happened to stumble across it in a second hand bookshop recently, I snapped it up, not wanting to repeat my mistake.

The book itself has a good overview of each symbol or character you are likely to see - not a lot of information, but enough to identify it and provide an introduction. It's laid out well as a reference, so I imagine if you were standing in a church wondering who a particular figure was, you would be able to look them up fairly easily.

I do have some criticisms. First, there are not enough illustrations. I think providing one or multiple illustrations for each item would make this a lot more useful. I understand there is an illustrated version of this book, but I have looked through that and it seems to have a lot less content. Second, there is a lot of basic information in here, which is fine if it is intended to be comprehensive, but it doesn't go into enough detail to be considered comprehensive. For example, only the most important saints are listed. I would have preferred perhaps less detail and background on each figure, to make way for and more illustrations and more figures and symbols.

But for me, alas the moment of need has passed so I did not appreciate it as much as I would have five years ago. This will sit on my bookshelf until the next great trip to Europe.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

2003. I read this book because of the documentary series that is currently showing on TV. It was a fascinating series and, now that I have read the book, followed the book closely. Although not many illustrations, it is a great introduction to a subject that I knew very little about. The writing is not at all dry and is immensely readable. Would like a follow on, please.

[Hathor · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the main, a basic and short introduction to symbols and signs used in churches in Britain throughout the ages. Three stars for explaining the architecture in a simple and accessible manner but looses a star for not always getting the theology behind the symbols right, which is frustrating. Not an author I would trust to get the facts right.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent guide to deciphering the symbology found in most christian churches, especially Catholic churches. It deals with the symbols found in decoration and artworks in churches, but it also helps with the metaphors that are used in the layout and arrangement of religious spaces.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative, but Taylor misses possible deeper spiritual signification of someof the arhcitecture and objects. The book reads at times as if wtitten by someone for whom the faith is purely a historical phenomenon.

[Laura]

Do not believe that this is the same edition, as mine is the "Pocket Guide". Has some interesting information, and is a good "refresher", but I find it very lacking in depth and not particularly useful as a reference. Perhaps need to look for this, full edition. ** for the Pocket Guide.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nifty little book which unpacks the symbolism found in and around churches. Had some nostalgic moments for me and some sense of the loss of my children and their generation for whom this is likely to be completely new.

[Stephen Huntley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written succinctly, with some nice quirky touches, and not at all preachy. Perfect for the general reader, there's plenty of fascinating information presented in a concise manner with just the right amount of detail and illustration. A great general reference resource.

[Ayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good informative book, lovely pictures and clear and easy to read. However riddled with typos and proof-reading errors.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intersting book, well written and a good introduction to Christen church imagery. However, I would have like it to have gone into more detail. I'll be looking for something with more depth.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty basic stuff although since the book covers the Catholic faith I did learn a few things about saints and their symbols. An easy read.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good reference, but I've read most of this information elsewhere. Hence, I went through it quickly.

[Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yes, it is interesting, but also quite repetitive.