Description
Suffolk is a county renowned for the beauty of its many parish churches, but for many visitors the physical language in which they speak, that of stained glass, engraved fonts, and hammerbeamed roofs, is obscure. Now available in a single updated volume, the Guide to Suffolk Churches provides a route into this fascinating world, its architecture and history.
From the 10th century to the 20th, Mortlock opens a window onto the intricacies of church architecture and decoration. From bells to pulpits to centuries-old graffiti found in window wells, each church unfolds from sealed tome to open book in Mortlock’s hands.
Accompanying the entries are extensive appendices and a useful glossary. From carvings of woodwoses to weeping chancels, the meaning of idiosyncracies and uniformities alike across the county are laid out in clear, engaging prose. New photographs, line drawings, and a detailed map ensure that neither the greatest of artefacts nor the smallest of churches can be accidentally overlooked.
Written in a voice as knowledgeable as it is enthusiastic about Suffolk and its churches, the guide is incomparable in both its thoroughness and charm, as it unlocks more than one thousand years of history across the county’s hundreds of churches. There is no visit to any parish church in Suffolk, no matter how well informed the visitor, that would not be more enjoyable and informative for having Mortlock along.
I welcome this book and believe that it will prove to be an invaluable companion for all who visit Suffolk’s churches. As more and more people discover the richness of our heritage, there is a need for a guide that is authoritative but not boring, comprehensive yet accessible, and that is what Mr Mortlock has provided.
From the Foreword by the Duke of Grafton
About the Author
D.P. Mortlock is Librarian to the Earl of Leicester and former County Librarian of Norfolk. He is a Fellow of the Library Association and served as an officer in the Indian Army from 1945-7. He is also the author of The Guide to Norfolk Churches, also published in one volume in 2007.
Contents
Foreword by the Duke of Grafton
Introduction
Map
Styles of Architecture and Monarchs
Alphabetical Guide to Churches
Glossary of Terms
Appendix 1: Saints
Appendix 2: Styles of Architecture
Endorsements and Reviews
Mortlock writes colourful descriptions of the marvels to be found in some of the richest medieval churches in the country.
The Sign
If there is one thing better than wandering around medieval churches on your own, it is doing so with a companion who is affable, knowledgeable, and interesting … [Mortlock] has the engaging manner of a detective, piecing together the story of the building from the available evidence, describing the historical development and idiosyncratic features … the beauty of this book is that it is written by an enthusiast. While there is no doubt about Mortlock’s expertise, he is never formulaic; alongside the naming of furnishings and architectural features, his eloquent prose finds room for … details which he happens to find interesting. Coming to a known church with Mortlock is like seeing it for the first time … the articles are accurate … Most importantly of all, Mortlock has an Anglican sensibility. He knows the true emotional value of the buildings he describes. There are few inaccuracies or omissions … Mortlock’s Guide to Suffolk Churches remains the only complete and reliable guide to the churches of Suffolk in print. Even when Pevsner’s revising editor has completed his work, this book will remain the definitive text on the subject for years to come.
Simon Knott, in Ecclesiology Today, Vol 44
