Medieval Church and Churchyard Monuments (Shire Library)

Churches contain much of the most interesting medieval sculpture in Britain. Magnificent effigies, whether of cast copper-alloy or stone, never cease to provoke awe and wonder, conjuring up glamorous images of an age of chivalry. Among the many joys of visiting churches is the experience of discovering sculptural treasures; monuments open doors to the past and introduce us to the characters from our history books that inhabited that lost world. Yet in their intended setting such monuments are often little known to non-specialists. Lavishly illustrated with high-quality color photographs, this book uncovers monuments as a rich source of information for anyone interested not only in church history but also in costume, armor, heraldry, sculpture and genealogy.