Our Homeland Churches and How to Study Them

A doorway, a window or a carved bench can help reveal the history of an old church. Sidney Heath explains how to examine these details and connect them with the changing styles of British church architecture. His handbook moves through Saxon and Norman work, Early English Gothic, Decorated and Perpendicular design, then considers the Renaissance and later building. The aim is practical: to help visitors recognise the age and character of what they see.

Alongside architectural periods, the contents cover furniture, bells, spires, stained glass and crypts, with a glossary and guidance on describing a church. Drawings and photographs provide examples, while Heath also discusses the religious symbolism carried by buildings and their ornaments. His preference for Gothic craftsmanship gives the account a distinct point of view. Readers interested in local history or church visits will find a vocabulary for observing structures that combine work from several periods.