Richard Jenkyns
ISBN 1861976488
Profile Books, 2004
£15.99

Category: Language & Reference

This is the third volume in Profile's "Wonders of the World" series and presents a fascinating, if not quite rivetting, illustrated (black & white photographs) account of one of our best loved national monuments and centres of Christian spirituality.

Jenkyns — a Professor at Oxford University — reviews Westminster Abbey's architecture, history and splendour, describing architecture as "like music, an experience in time, but unlike music buildings allow us to choose the pace and sometimes even the order in which we enjoy them." (p.32). Likewise this book compared to a visit: it can be read cover to cover, but it's also ideal for dipping into at the reader's leisure.

Westminster Abbey, however, is about much more than architecture and history: it's about living worship — as Jenkyns concludes, "The best way to understand the Abbey's spiritual life is to experience it" (p.199).

Thoroughly indexed with a good bibliography, this volume faces stiff competition from the colour-illustrated tomes you'll inevitably find it sitting alongside in cathedral bookshops — but at the price you're unlikely find better overall value.

Profile Books

Phil Groom, October 2004

Phil Groom is this site's Webmaster and Reviews Editor. He's a regular contributor to Christian Marketplace magazine and is the manager of London School of Theology Books & Resources. Any opinions expressed here are personal and should not be taken as representing the views of London School of Theology or of any other group or organisation.

From a review previously published in Christian Marketplace Magazine
Resourcing retailers and suppliers in the UK
Subscribe today — only £25 per year (12 issues)
Call 01892 652364 for more information

Authors | Categories | Publishers | Reviewers | Titles