Church Going

A beautiful book - in which curiosity, hand-skill and creativity combine in a hymn to craftsmanship, and vernacular and sacred architecture. Ziminski is a rare and wonderful voice -- Rory Stewart
A lively and loving anatomy of church architecture ... Every seat and stone has a story to tell. Ziminski tells them with aplomb, leading us through parish church graveyards, up spiral staircases and to the tops of spires and towers, uncovering what has been hidden -- 'Books of the Year' * The Times *
There are few better means of discovering local history than from a parish church: Ziminski gives us a penetrating insight into the craftsmanship of the Middle Ages -- '50 Best Books of 2024' * Telegraph *
Joyous ... this insightful book is stuffed full of ecclesiastical wonders * Daily Mail *
Captivating ... brims with humour and humanity ... A lively guide to the features and furnishings of some of our nation's most evocative buildings * The Times *
Peerless ... if there is one thing even better than taking a turn around old churches, it is doing so in the company of an expert * Church Times *
Atmospheric ... a deep delight * The Tablet *
With humour and enthusiasm, Ziminksi illuminates fascinating details of construction and decoration - you will never look at a church the same way again -- 'Books of the Year' * Countryfile *
Charming ... Ziminski has dug deep into the stone skin of these buildings and can tell you exactly how they were made ... Ziminski provides non-stop revelations ... pitching expert knowledge to the non-expert ... He finds treasure in the unlikeliest of places * Spectator *
Fascinating - a masterly guide to the detail and meaning but also to the glory of Britain's heritage -- Simon Jenkins
[Ziminski] can write with real authority - and no little style - on that fascinating alchemy by which masons turn living stone into standing structures ... recommended to anyone who shares Ziminksi's joy in church crawling * History Today *
Utterly, utterly fascinating, from start to finish. One of the most enjoyable books I've ever read. Thank you, Andrew Ziminski, for opening our eyes to the vast treasure trove of thrilling history which lies in the churches across Britain. The wonders of this book will stay with its readers for years to come -- Alice Loxton
Beautifully written, informative, often moving. Do read this, if you think you're not into churches now you will be -- Ned Palmer * A Cheesemonger's Tour de France *
Fascinating stories about the UK's churches ... [Ziminski] has an unparalleled understanding of the UK's stones * Saturday Live *
This book is an anatomy of buildings we take for granted, an opening-up of architectural bodies to reveal marvellous mechanisms in gold, bone, ancient stone and holy wells of stories -- Amy Jeffs, author * Storyland *
Ziminski is the perfect Church Going guide, having worked for several decades as a stonemason and church conservator. Through his expert eye, we learn of flying buttresses, rood screens, lychgates and chancels. Not only is Church Going a glorious read, but it has a lasting legacy: it equips the reader with the ability, on visiting any British church, to decode its secrets and uncover its delights - and find joy in these mysterious buildings, for years to come. -- Alice Loxton, 'Book of the Year' * BBC History Magazine *
A joyous and illuminating exploration of our glorious heritage of old churches. A must for anyone who's ever stared at an apse or a misericord with no idea what they're looking at -- Sir Tony Robinson
Andrew Ziminski's books are treasure troves of lived and learned experience. They have changed the way I look at buildings and Britain -- Max Porter, author * Grief Is the Thing with Feathers *
From bulletholes in weathervanes to beehives in church walls, Ziminski has an eye for charming details and an ear for a good story -- Peter Ross, author * Steeple Chasing *
Andrew Ziminski's joyful, fascinating and often funny book will no doubt inspire a whole new generation of church detectives - and encourage a host of young stonemasons, too. A treasure -- Victoria Finlay, author * Fabric *
As a 'son of the manse' I like to think I can tell a doom painting from an embrasure. After joining Andrew in these pages I now understand a whole lot more -- Jeremy Wade
The medieval churches of the British Isles are among the finest and most diverse anywhere in Europe. This superb book brings them to life by examining the details of their construction and decoration. Only a stonemason could explain and reveal the motives that inspired the craftsmen who gave these ancient buildings their unique grandeur, beauty and magic. Ziminski's churches are like people - and many still possess a lively sense of humour -- Francis Pryor, author * The Making of the British Landscape *