A manual for church crawling

If These Stones Could Talk: the History of Christianity in Britain and Ireland Through Twenty-One Buildings by Peter Stanford Hodder and Stoughton, €12.99/£10.99

Published two years ago in hardback, this book aimed at a popular readership now appears as a paperback and so becomes accessible to many who might have missed it. It runs from first century Glastonbury (a controversial beginning, but one which many like myself will sympathise with) down to the building of what they call “Paddy’s Wigwam” in the City of Liverpool – the Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral in Liverpool. Thus every development of faith, from the Middle Ages, the Reformation, and modern revivals and its public expression is covered. The book was written with great difficulty during the Covid-19 lockdowns. Now that wandering around is simpler, a copy of this book should provide ideas about destinations for many trips.

Possibilities

His final chapter deals with the possibilities of church going in the future. This is all very problematic. But it is noticeable of late in Ireland, that though at present few teenagers and 20-year-olds attend any kind of church, among Catholics at least there seems to be a rise among those parents with young children. Some might see this as a happy augury for the future. But at the moment who can really tell.

Perhaps these attendees are among the New Irish, bringing into Ireland the more active habits of attendance shaped by other cultures.

But reading this book and going in search of the places he describes will provide an interesting experience, if not a revived sense of faith. In any case a book well worth buying, reading, and following in the path of.