Fifty Catholic Churches to See Before You Die

Catholic churches are among the great architectural treasures of England and Wales yet hardly known and rarely explored.

This beautifully illustrated guide opens up a hidden heritage with its survey of 50 of the finest Catholic churches. Each entry includes other fascinating buildings in the area that are ‘worth a detour’.

There are Gothic Revival churches, neo-Classical, Byzantine, English Arts-and-Crafts and Modernist as well as a few built prior to the Reformation.

Behind every one is a compelling story, peopled by courageous old Catholic families; visionary priests and religious orders; captains of industry and commerce; and poor Irish migrants who contributed their pennies, and often their labour, to raise buildings that give glory to God.

Throughout the ages, Catholic people have dedicated their faith, time, energy and money, to building these sacred spaces, and with love and care adorned them with commensurate beauty. The transcendent architecture of churches is a witness to human destiny beyond this immanent world. Cardinal Hume once said “Churches are not just places in which we worship God but with which we worship God”.

As Chair of the Church’s Patrimony Committee I warmly welcome the publication of Elena Curti’s Fifty Catholic Churches to See Before You Die.     +George Stack Archbishop of Cardiff

Includes colour illustrations.