Overview

This is a comprehensive survey of the social, historical and architectural importance of the English parsonage and its future. Traditional English rectories and vicarages, sold out of service by the Church, have become uniquely desirable to property buyers and are now cherished by their new private owners. They combine many coveted qualities: their fine architecture, their air of civilization, their charm and character, the traditional values and quality of essential 'Englishness' which they evoke; their large gardens and often splendidly rural locations. Despite their historical, social and architectural importance, there is no comprehensive book about them currently in print. This book examines the place of rectories and vicarages in the history of the Church and of this country, and traces their evolution through the centuries. It looks at their many and varied styles of architecture, profiling some individual houses and highlighting some of the most architecturally outstanding and interesting ones. It is handsomely illustrated with quality color and black-and-white photographs. Although rectories and vicarages have had their ups and downs throughout history, the period from the early twentieth century to the present day has posed perhaps the greatest challenge: why, if they are so desirable, has the Church been selling off its finest houses? ""The Old Rectory"" examines the contribution to our culture made by the clerical families who occupied these houses, and looks at some of the famous people (and eccentrics) who have been associated with them.

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9780826426581

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Reviews

'Jennings has produced an excellently presented and beautifully illustrated story of the history of the English parsonage' Historic House, September 2010

"""Written by the director of Save Our Parsonages, this book is more than a history of English rectories and vicarages, as it looks at a multitude of issues concerned with selling-off, rural retreat, and the future of the countryside community - indeed, the future of England itself...one extra advantage is the quality and frequency of the 68 photographs (and others in the text), almost half of which are in colour."" thegoodbookstall.org.uk, January 2010 ""The Old Rectory also contains some decent jokes, some nice stories, and some good writing."" Church Times, November 2009 'Jennings has produced an excellently presented and beautifully illustrated story of the history of the English parsonage' Historic House, September 2010 ""A humdinging page-turner of a book"" Lucinda Lambton, The Spectator. See the full review at http: //www.spectator.co.uk/books/5635548/parsons-displeasure.thtml ""A personal romp through the parsonages that Jennings particularly admires and which give a beguiling synopsis of the devlopments of this curiously English dwelling."" The Rectory Society Newsletter, March 2010. ""Charles Moore reviews 'The Old Rectory' by Anthony Jennings and relishes this unique and remarkable piece of our national patrimony."" The Daily Telegraph, May 2010 http: //www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/charlesmoore/7703973/Houses-of-God-and-windows-on-our-history.html, ""Readers of a conservative bent will certainly wish to make room on their shelves for this book, but it should be eschewed by those who are proud to call themselves 'progressive'. I can pay no higher compliment."" The Salisbury Review, Summer 2010 A fascinating list of interesting or famous people down the ages who have either lived in or been associated with parsonages' Parson & Parish, Summer 2010 Listed 1st in Church Times new titles list 20th November 2009. ""Anthony Jennings' book is essentially a collection of fascinating lists that lovingly name and rename his favourite houses...this book will give great pleasure..."" Country Life, January 2010"

Written by the director of Save Our Parsonages, this book is more than a history of English rectories and vicarages, as it looks at a multitude of issues concerned with selling-off, rural retreat, and the future of the countryside community - indeed, the future of England itself...one extra advantage is the quality and frequency of the 68 photographs (and others in the text), almost half of which are in colour. thegoodbookstall.org.uk, January 2010

Author Information

Anthony Jennings is the Director of Save Our Parsonages.

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