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'Prayer-Book' Parish Churches (2)

Gazetteer and Map
Based on gazetteer in Churches the Victorians Forgot

The map below shows the location of some of the best examples of 'prayer-book' churches in England. Readers will notice clusters of such churches in areas which were not largely or heavily industrialised, for example Somerset and Wiltshire, Devon and Dorset, the wheatlands around Oxford, the Welsh Border counties, and the New Forest. There are a few exceptions such as Little Stanmore which is now a part of Edgeware, St John's church in the heart of Leeds, and Tong which is within the Bradford/Leeds conurbation.

Pre-Reformation Parish Church

The following list details the archetypal 'prayer-book' churches which are to be found in England. Such churches are marked with an asterisk *. Also included in the list are churches which are substantially of the 'prayer-book' type but have been marred by unsympathetic alterations or additions. The churches which have west or other galleries or singers' pews are marked G, while MP denotes a musician's pew. A number of the listed churches are no longer used for worship. Some are in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust (formerly the Redundant Churches Fund), which does a magnificent job with its limited funds, and where known to be in its care, are marked CCT.

Many of these churches and chapels are remote and some are all that remain at a deserted village site and are not easily found. Even when located, access to the buildings is not always easy - at two of our Shropshire chapels you must first obtain the key from the local farmhouse, then push aside the cows before you can get into the church. Whatever the effort, it is always worthwhile. These few survivals deserve a special place in the hearts of west gallery enthusiasts.

BERKSHIRE
Besselsleigh*G, Hamstead Marshall*G

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
Biddlesden*, Gayhurst*, Thornton G, Willen

CHESHIRE
Baddiley*G, Congleton G, Shotwick, Threapwood G, Tushingham (Old Church)*G

CUMBERLAND
Whitehaven G

DERBYSHIRE
Dale Abbey*, Foremark*, Trusley

DEVON
Branscombe G, Cruwys Morchard, Exeter (St Martin) G, Molland*, Parracombe (Old Church)* CCT, West Ogwell

DORSET
Blandford Forum G, Chalbury*G, Charlton Marshall G, Easton (St George Reforne)*G CCT, Folke, Leweston*, Puddletown G, West Stafford G, Winterbourne Tomson*G CCT

DURHAM
Brancepeth*, Haughton-le-Skerne

ESSEX
Wanstead*G

GLOUCESTER
Didmarton, Hailes*, Little Washbourne*

HAMPSHIRE
Avington*G, Boarhunt*G, IdsworthG, Minstead*G, Southwick G

HEREFORDSHIRE
Abbey Dore G, Clodock*G, Monnington-on-Wye, Richards Castle (St Bartholemew) CCT, Shobdon*G, Stoke Edith*G, Tyberton

HERTFORDSHIRE
Stanstead Abbotts*

HUNTINGDONSHIRE
Leighton Bromswold, Little Gidding

KENT
Badlesmere*, Fairfield*, Old Romney G, Stelling*G

LANCASHIRE
Pilling (Old Church)*

LEICESTERSHIRE
King's Norton*G, Stapleford*G, Staunton Harold*G, Wistow

LINCOLNSHIRE
Hannah-cum-Hagnaby*, Langton-by-Partney*G, Mareham-on-the-Hill, Well*G

MIDDLESEX
Little Stanmore*G

NORFOLK
Belaugh, Thurning, Warham St Mary*, Wilby G

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
Passenham G, Plumpton

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Teversal G, Tythby G, Winkburn*

OXFORDSHIRE
Chislehampton*G CCT, Rycote*G, Shorthampton, Waterperry, Wheatfield*, Widford*

RUTLAND
Brooke*, Teigh*

SHROPSHIRE
Leebotwood G, Longnor G, Heath*, Langley*MP, Petton, Stokesay G

SOMERSET
Cameley G, Catcott G, Croscombe, Hardington*, Holcombe G, Stawley, Wyke Champflower

STAFFORDSHIRE
Ingestre*

SUFFOLK
Kedington G, Letheringham*, Shelland*MP, Withersdale G

SURREY
Petersham*G

SUSSEX
Ashburnham G, Chichester (St John) G, Glynde G, Parham*, Penhurst, Warminghurst* CCT, Up Marden

WARWICKSHIRE
Castle Bromwich G, Honiley G

WESTMORLAND
Brougham (Ninekirk)* CCT, Ravenstonedale G

WILTSHIRE
Alton Priors, Farley, Foxley, Ham G, Inglesham*, Lydiard Tregoze, Mildenhall*G, Old Dilton*G, Sherrington, Stratford-sub-Castle G, Stratford Tony

WORCESTERSHIRE
Croome D'Abitot CCT

YORKSHIRE (EAST RIDING)
York (Holy Trinity, Goodramgate)

YORKSHIRE (NORTH RIDING)
Robin Hood's Bay*G, Skelton (Old Church)*G, Whitby*G

YORKSHIRE (WEST RIDING)
Aldfield*, Beauchief*, Lead*, Leeds (St John) CCT, Midhopestones*G, Slaidburn, Tong*

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You can find out more about some of these churches by visiting West Gallery Churches

Visit the Churches Conservation Trust website

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