Churches!
Site of the Ecclesiological Society  - for those who love churches
The Ecclesiological Society, founded in 1879, is the successor of the Cambridge Camden Society more . . .
Welcome! Whether you are an expert on churches and their architecture, or merely curious, welcome! Please contact us with any questions - we will do our best to answer, without charge.
Latest >> Our annual conference is on 2nd October 2010 on Medieval English Wall Paintings All are welcome. Details here. English Heritage have announced the result of a national survey of the condition of church buildings, and a new support package for churches including a micro-site here and a helpful booklet. Here is the press release. Added June 2010   >> List of listed churches and other places of worship. English Heritage have created a list of all listed places of worship in England. This can be found here. Added April 2010   >> Methodist Heritage. The Methodist church have published the Methodist Heritage Handbook 2010 listing 100 historic sites. It is available free from here. Added April 2010 >> Toolkit. A toolkit has been launched which takes churches through the whole process of opening up their church for wider community use. It is available on the Diocese of Hereford website, here. Added March 2010 >> Case studies. The excellent Church Care website at www.churchcare.co.uk has created a set of case studies of church buildings which have been significantly re-ordered , often for community use. There is a chance to offer your own church as a case study. See the case studies here.Added March 2010
Explore . . . Site of the month image of the month Fascinating  links Publications
The future With slowly declining congregations (in common with many Christian denominations), what will happen to our Church of England church buildings?  churches future (including downloads). . . This site . . . publications/download  download free publications . . . picture essays  short articles about various aspects of churches . . . research resources feel free to use our  selection of research links . . . news and gossip recent stories, both serious and gossipy . . . conferences  information about our annual conferences events  a large number of events related to church buildings . . . site of the month  each month we select an outstanding site for you to enjoy . . . image of the month  an image every month, with short commentary . . . links  an outanding collection of links to individual churches and collections of churches organisations  other organisations connected with church buildings etc . . . current issues  issues connected with churches (for their future see churches future) about us the Ecclesiological Society - we give a warm welcome to new members . . . members' page  of interest mainly to members contact how to contact us
Help with . . . If you can't find the sort of thing you are looking for on this site, try our Help with . . .  page, which has links to several useful sites, including the excellent Churchcrawler chat site, and helpful hints for those looking after churches and applying for grants. Update policy In theory updated monthly.  This page last updated June 2010.  See what's new. The Ecclesiological Society, Registered Charity No. 210501 Address for enquiries and general correspondence: EcclSoc, PO Box 287, New Malden, KT3 4YT, UK Home | Search the site What's new  | News and gossip Dr D's image of the month  | Picture essays | Site of the month Links | Organisations | Research | Help with . . .  Conferences | Events Downloads and publications  |  Churches future  | Current issues    Members' page | About the Society  Contact us at infomain@ecclsoc.org

KEYWORDS FOR SEARCH ENGINES
Church architecture, Church design, Use of churches, Liturgical arrangment,
Romanesque churches, Romanesque architecture, Decorated architecture
Perpendicular architecture, Norman churches, Anglo-saxon churches
Saxon churches, Church furnishings, Church fittings, Church furniture, Church decoration
Pews, Pulpits, Fonts, Screens, Galleries, Altar, Communion table, Paschal candle
Squint, Hagioscope, Aisles, Transepts, Sanctuary, Quire, Choir, Sedilia, Chancel,
Piscina, Aumbry, east window, west window, mason, master mason, mason's marks,
tiles, communion rails, porch, wall painting, stained glass, painted glass, figurative glass,
staves, beadles, churchwardens, rood, rood loft, crucifix, cross, saint, iconography, iconoclasm,
box pews, squire's pew, clerestorey, clearstorey, hammer beam roof, hammerbeam roof,
medieval roof, church monument, monumental brass, memorial brass, hatchment, royal arms,
doom, hell's mouth, scratch dial, orientation, burial, tomb, crypt, victorian churches, georgian churches,
post-reformation churches, consecration of churches
church architecture

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Interest in church liturgy can be historic, such as an interest in the Sarum liturgy, or the liturgy of York or Canterbury - that is, medieval church liturgy. The interest might stretch further back, to the liturgies of the Church Fathers. Or it might be an interest in liturgy for today's church - modern liturgy if you will, including the reordering of churches (sometimes spelt re-ordering of churches). Included in the concept of liturgy is the selection of church music, church vestments, ceremonial, the degree of congregational participation, church processions as well as the liturgical arrangement of the sacred space - and these factors can be all be present by their absence.
Church architecture and parish church architecture (the architecture of parish churches)
The Ecclesiolgical Society has members who are particularly interested in medieval church architecture, particularly of parish churches. Others specialise in Saxon architecture (that is to say, English pre-Romanesque) or Norman architecture (Romanesque architecture, partcularly of churches). Yet others will be interested in Carolingian church architecture, of which a substantial amount survives on the Continent of Europe. Other periods also interest our members, including the Georgian period. Many of them love the Victorian period, though asking who is the best Victorian church architect is likely to start a vigorous debate! Modern church architecture is also studied, and twentieth century church architecture.