Publisher's Synopsis
Book & CD. This is an exploration in pictures, words and music of the fascinating story of the Island's churches and chapels, which over the past millennium and a half have provided the ever-present backdrop to its people's lives. From the timeless intimacy of Marown Old Church to the soaring magnificence of New Kirk Braddan, and from Methodist simplicity to Catholic opulence, the churches and chapels of the isle of Man reflect the people who built and used them. Their interiors have been enriched by artists from John Millar Nicholson to Bryan Kneale, and they express everything from the joy of christenings in their ancient fonts to the profound grief of a nation at the sacrifices of the Great War. Some house stone crosses a thousand years old; others are entirely the work of the original imagination of the twentieth century. Architectural historian Jonathan Kewley explains how and why they were built as they were, and puts them in a wider context, identifying features of particular interest. Magnificent colour photographs by Miles Cowsill and Vicky Harrop provide the visual feast those who know their previous work would expect, capturing the essence of the buildings and revealing details often unfamiliar even to regular visitors. On an accompanying CD, the well-known organist Gareth Moore plays a selection of pieces on fifteen of the Island's best organs, described in detail by local organ builder Peter Jones.
