Country Church Monuments

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This illustrated history explores the often-overlooked funerary monuments found in rural parish churches across England and Wales. Hidden away from the grandeur of abbeys and cathedrals, these artworks—medieval brasses, marble effigies, stone tomb chests, and grand mausoleums—hold significant historical and cultural value. Over 25 years, C. B. Newham FSA has documented more than 8,000 rural churches, showcasing 365 of the finest monuments in this work. Each piece is presented with detailed photographs, biographies of the deceased and their sculptors, and rich contextual information. Among these monuments are tributes to notable historical figures like Tudor courtier Richard Rich and Victorian prime minister William Ewart Gladstone, alongside memorials for lesser-known individuals—minor aristocrats, small industrialists, and beloved family members—who might otherwise be forgotten. Newham revitalizes these artworks, revealing the stories behind them and crafting a new aesthetic history of rural England and Wales. This collection serves as a poignant reminder of the art created at the intersection of life and death, reflecting humanity's enduring quest for remembrance and eternity.