Going to Church in Medieval England by Nicholas Orme - History Non Fiction - Paperback

Details
Condition: New
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780300266436
Publisher: Yale University Press
Age Range: Adult

Overview
Going to Church in Medieval England is a comprehensive, richly illustrated history of parish churches in England from the Anglo-Saxon period through the mid-sixteenth century. Written by leading medievalist Nicholas Orme, this 496-page paperback traces how parish churches were founded, staffed, and used, and how ordinary people, not just the clergy, shaped daily worship. It is an essential read for anyone interested in English religious and social history.

About the Book
Parish churches stood at the centre of English religious and social life throughout the Middle Ages and into the sixteenth century. In this comprehensive study, Nicholas Orme explains how parish churches came into existence, who staffed them, and how their buildings were actually used by the communities around them. He explores who attended church, who stayed away, and how ordinary parishioners, not merely priests and bishops, influenced the way worship was staged and experienced. The book offers an accessible account of the daily and weekly rhythms of parish life, describing the services that structured each week and the way churches marked the great seasons of the Christian year, including Christmas, Lent, and Easter. Orme also examines how parish churches marked the major milestones of individual lives, from birth and coming of age to marriage, and how they offered comfort during sickness and at the point of death. A concluding chapter turns to the upheavals of the English Reformation in the sixteenth century, tracing how the break with Rome transformed parish worship and church life. Supported throughout by generous illustrations, this paperback edition combines serious scholarship with genuine readability, making it as suitable for general readers and gift buyers as it is for students and researchers of medieval and Tudor England.

• Comprehensive single-volume history spanning the Anglo-Saxon period to the mid-sixteenth century
• Richly illustrated throughout for an engaging, visual reading experience
• Written by a leading, widely respected authority on medieval English religious history
• Covers church staffing, attendance, worship, and life events such as birth, marriage, and death
• Includes a dedicated chapter on the impact of the English Reformation
• An ideal gift for history enthusiasts, students, and church history researchers

About the Author
Nicholas Orme is Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Exeter and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and the Royal Historical Society. A leading authority on medieval and Tudor English religious history, he has written extensively on the history of the Church, childhood, and the South West of England. His work is known for combining rigorous academic research with clear, accessible writing, making complex historical subjects approachable for general readers as well as specialists.

Why You'll Love This Book
This beautifully illustrated paperback brings medieval parish life vividly to life, blending trustworthy scholarship with genuinely engaging storytelling. Perfect for history lovers, students, and anyone curious about how ordinary people worshipped centuries ago.

Please Note: Please note the ISBN and edition cover shown are for the UK edition of this paperback.