BRITAIN is known for its beautiful variety of church architecture that is seen in nearly every village and town.

These buildings are a part of our heritage, describing the influence that religion has played in our history; yet very few people know even the simplest of architectural terms.

There are many books on this subject, so what makes this book so different to others? The author is a prolific watercolourist and it is these beautiful, witty, paintings that cover most pages, we immediately fall in love with.

Using examples from exceptional churches such as Ripon Cathedral, he labels the components that make up the parts of each building, so we can understand and remember the vocabulary of church architecture at a glance, while the last pages of the book, we are shown maps that give us some of the most interesting churches to visit in a specific area.

In this charming book, Matthew Rice guides us through each stage of historic development from the simplicity of Saxon and Norman churches, through to the turbulent times of religious change in the 16th century to the rhythmic forms of the baroque and closing with modernism declaring its gradual decline of originality.

I can’t praise this book highly enough for the reader immediately knows that it is the author’s enthusiasm for his subject and his love of painting that gives a totally fresh outlook on architecture and will make you want to visit every old church you pass