Forgotten Churches

Luke Sherlock, Ioana Pioaru

From Shelf: Official Indie Non-Fiction Bestsellers (week 13, 2025)

A journey across some of the quietly spectacular rural churches of England, telling their stories and significance, and building a picture of how they trace the history of the nation. Written by Luke Sherlock (@EnglishPilgrim) and illustrated throughout by Ioana Pioaru (@IoanaPioaru).

The Sunday Times bestsellerDiscover England's Most Beautiful and Overlooked Churches with Forgotten Churches: Exploring England's Hidden Treasures For centuries, England's churches have stood as quiet witnesses to history, filled with remarkable craftsmanship, untold stories, and layers of cultural heritage. Yet many of these extraordinary buildings remain overlooked - until now. Luke Sherlock, or @englishpilgrim, has spent years travelling the length and breadth of England, uncovering hidden architectural gems and sharing their beauty with thousands online. In Forgotten Churches, he invites you on a journey through 70 of the country's most atmospheric churches, from thousand-year-old Saxon chapels and striking Gothic landmarks to hidden Romanesque sanctuaries and ornate Victorian treasures. From the remote landscapes of Cornwall to the Norfolk fens, the Derbyshire dales and the Somerset hills, Sherlock reveals the forgotten stories of these extraordinary places - of local communities, master builders, and the shifting tides of history - while capturing the magic of stepping into these timeless spaces. Whether you love history, architecture, or simply the charm of England's rural landscapes, this book is your guide to discovering some of the nation's best-kept secrets. Forgotten Churches is the perfect compendium for history enthusiasts, architecture lovers, and anyone who finds inspiration in England's vivid and storied past.