The Archaeology of Churches

Churches are Britain’s most completely surviving class of historic monument. They are also usually the oldest buildings within their settlements. As such, these structures, from parish church to cathedral, from medieval to Georgian, are a huge architectural and archaeological resource. The last couple of decades have witnessed an unprecedented upsurge of public interest in the historic environment, and the growth of the tourism and ‘heritage’ industries has focused new attention on churches. While some visitors to churches, cathedrals and monastic ruins seem content to wander around with little or no understanding of what they are looking at, many have an interest in learning about the history or usage of the building. How far does it go back? Where is the earliest part of the building? Warwick Rodwell discusses the archaeological techniques that can attempt to answer such questions. In this lavishly illustrated, informative guide, Professor Rodwell explores the buildings themselves, their component parts, from foundations to finials, their sites, furnishings, fixtures and fittings, as well as churchyards and monuments.