Suffolk is a county renowned for the beauty of its many parish churches, but for the average visitor the physical language in which they speak, that of stained glass, engraved fonts, and hammer-beamed roofs, is bewildering. Now available in an updated, single volume, the Guide to Suffolk Churches provides a way into this fascinating world, its architecture and history. From bells to pulpits to centuries-old graffiti found in window sills, each church unfolds from sealed tome to open book in Mortlockis hands. Accompanying the entries there is an extensive glossary/index and two useful appendices. 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 the thoroughness and charm with which it unlocks more than one thousand years of history across the countyis 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.
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.
Title: The Guide to Suffolk Churches (Popular Guide)
Author: D.P. Mortlock
ISBN: 9780718830762
Binding:
Publisher: James Clarke & Co Ltd
Publication Date: 2009-04-30
Number of Pages: 608
Weight: 0.8621 kg
'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, January 2012