Book Description

After the Protestant Reformation, religion remained remarkably unstable in Great Britain, and places of worship were the focus of dispute and regular change. Beginning in the seventeenth century, the growth of the Nonconformist denominations left a particularly rich architectural legacy in the form of a vast and diverse network of churches and chapels constructed throughout the towns and cities of England. Although many of these buildings have been lost, about 20,000 remain, some still in use by congregations to this day. The Chapels of England provides the first chronological history of Nonconformist architecture in England, from the seventeenth century to the present day. Beautifully illustrated throughout with interior and exterior photography, the book includes examples that range from small wayside chapels to large urban churches and encompass all the country's regions and each of Nonconformity's main religious traditions. The book's chronological organization allows readers to follow the main developments in the architecture of Nonconformity and understand how these developments fit within broader religious and cultural conversations.