The Reformation of the English Parish Church
Understanding the Impact of the English Reformation
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Cambridge University Press
Published:18th Mar '10
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This hardback is available in another edition too:
- Paperback£30.99(9781107460355)
This book offers an in-depth look at the transformations of parish churches during the English Reformation, revealing the complex interplay of faith and architecture.
This book provides a comprehensive exploration of the significant transformations that the English parish church underwent during the English Reformation. Through meticulous research, Robert Whiting examines a range of documentary sources, including court records, wills, and church wardens' accounts, to uncover the motivations behind these changes. He also analyzes the physical remnants of the churches themselves, such as screens, fonts, and paintings, which serve as testament to the era's tumultuous shifts in religious practice and belief.
In the sixteenth century, parish churches were not just places of worship; they were pivotal community structures that reflected the values and beliefs of the people. The Reformation of the English Parish Church delves into why these buildings were so deeply valued and how they became battlegrounds for conflicting religious ideologies. Whiting highlights the reverence that Catholics held for church artefacts, contrasting it with the Protestant disdain that emerged as the Reformation gained momentum.
This richly illustrated account not only documents the acts of destruction that marked the Reformation but also emphasizes the acts of creation that accompanied this period of change. By shedding light on both the physical and ideological transformations of these ancient buildings, The Reformation of the English Parish Church provides a nuanced understanding of how religious change shaped the landscape of English spirituality and communal life.
'We can stand back and marvel at the scope of the author's achievement … Now we discover what Dr Whiting has spent the past 12 years doing: acquiring an amazingly detailed knowledge of England's parish churches, and of how they changed between 1530 and 1640, so that he can read the story of the Reformation as it was inscribed in those churches' fabric … This is a book which will be enjoyed most as a box of treasures, a guide to the marvels still hidden away in England's parish churches … As a guide to what survives, to what was lost, and why, this book has no rival.' Alec Ryrie, The Tablet
'The modest title of this book conceals the fact that Robert Whiting has provided a cutting-edge contribution to the study of the English Reformation … Reflecting recent historical interest in material culture, the text adds an important dimension to the Reformation debate.' The Times Higher Education Supplement
'Robert Whiting's meticulous investigation of … changes [to the interiors of parish churches] offers both in-depth descriptions of … works of art, furniture, and other goods as well as analyses of the motivations that led parishioners to jettison once favored objects while they embraced new ones … a valuable guide to the material transformations of England's parish churches over many decades, with abundant details about artifacts themselves as well as the churchwardens, donors, artisans, and other people who effected or resisted these alterations.' Kathleen Kamerick, Journal of British Studies
'… meticulously researched, packed with useful information, and beautifully illustrated.' The Times Literary Supplement
'… a wonderful guidebook to the various and often unfamiliar aspects of the interior design and decor of English churches during the Reformation that will be of use to scholars and students alike.' Ronald H. Fritze, The Historian
'This book is meticulously researched and carries an excellent bibliography.' Journal of the Catholic Archives Society
ISBN: 9780521762861
Dimensions: 253mm x 197mm x 21mm
Weight: 880g
284 pages