Church Curiosities : Strange Objects and Bizarre Legends

Author: Castleton, David

History of architecture

Published on 18 March 2021 by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (Shire Publications) in the United Kingdom as part of 'the Shire Library' series.

Paperback / softback | 96 pages, Fully illustrated throughout
209 x 149 x 9 | 244g

In churches and cathedrals across Britain, tucked away among ordinary items such as pews, screens and pulpits, sit a plethora of fascinating and unexpected objects. From dragon-slaying spears and the ribs of monstrous cows, to pagan altars, reindeer horns and mummified skulls, these curiosities have intrigued generations of visitors. In this captivating history, David Castleton explores this fascinating world of lepers’ squints, pancake bells, virgin garlands and sanctuary knockers, and unravels the tales, legends and folkloric ceremonies that lay behind these charming and often deeply unusual artefacts.