Churches and cathedrals play an essential part in our heritage. As community-centred places of worship and important tourist attractions, they are visited by millions of people each year. But churches were originally built to be read, and so are packed with images, symbols and meanings that often need explanation. This beautiful book unlocks all the treasures they contain. Described by Christopher Howse in the Daily Telegraph as 'a handy crash course in church literacy', the first edition of this unique and accessible guide to the common symbols and meanings in church art and architecture became a bestseller on first publication. In this stunning illustrated edition, over 100 colour photographs represent the very best in church architecture - from paintings, fonts and altars, to pew ends, choir stalls and stained glass windows. This is the ultimate reference for anybody who wants to know more about what they see in a church or cathedral from the significance of church layouts, the symbolism of key scenes and the importance of details, to the use of colours and letters.