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Steeple Chasing

Around Britain by Church

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Steeple Chasing

By: Peter Ross
Narrated by: Peter Ross
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About this listen

From the author of A Tomb with a View - a celebration of the weird and wonderful churches of Britain.

Churches are all around us. Their steeples remain landmarks in our towns, villages and cities, even as their influence and authority has waned. They contain art and architectural wonders - one huge gallery scattered, like a handful of jewels, across these isles.

Award-winning writer Peter Ross sets out to tell their stories, and through them a story of Britain. Join him as he visits the unassuming Norfolk church which contains a disturbing secret, and London's mighty cathedrals with their histories of fire and love. Meet cats and bats, monks and druids, angels of oak and steel.

Steeple Chasing, though it sometimes strikes an elegiac note, is a song of praise. It celebrates churches for their beauty and meaning, and for the tales they tell. It is about people as much as place, flesh and bone not just flint and stone. From the painted hells of Surrey to the holy wells of Wales, consider this a travel book...with bells on.

©2023 Peter Ross (P)2023 Headline Publishing Group Limited
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The pandemic told by visiting churches

Peter started the book at the beginning of the pandemic and hence it's not just a fascinating story of British churches but also a social history of the pandemic told via his travelling the country to visit British Churches. It's also a story of people who love these churches and are protecting them. Loved it.

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Loved the way he reads it.

Mostly liked the quirky stories, the individuals’ input and many of the unusual facts I would never have known, eg the bats!

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Engaging and beautifully written

I listened to this each morning while walking the dog and found it a delight. So much so that after listening on one such walk to tales of the Angel Roof at Upwell and the author’s story of stroking the angel’s left cheek I found myself that very afternoon deep in the Fens doing the very same thing. And well worth the trip it was. If you enjoy history, visiting churches and people you won’t be disappointed.

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Superb!

Effortlessly woven spirituality and history. A wonderful journey. An armchair pilgrimage with a brilliantly touchable narrator. Love it!

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really enjoyable writing

brilliantly written and well read, another excellent book by Peter Ross. I highly recommend it.

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A real treat for church lovers

This is a wonderful listen - the places Peter has visited are really brought to life with his narration. Several of them I have been lucky enough to visit, many others have been added to a mental list in the hope I can do so. I found the section of wells particularly fascinating. Whilst listening to the section on Ffynnon Fair I thought, hang on this sounds very familiar! I tried to visit the well in 2018 but was sadly denied access. His insider description was therefore captivating to me. I'm trying out his book about graveyards next and hoping he starts one on wells too!

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Brilliant!

Great narration, i could listen to Peter Ross talk all day. Book was really interesting, getting A Tomb With A View now.

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Excellent!

Splendidly written and read. What a joy this was to listen to - deep and meaningful and refreshing.

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charming, fascinating and enriching

sadly the audio recording let's it down. its echoey on multiple devices which makes it a better read than a good listen.

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In-SPIRE-ing

I enjoyed Peter's other book, 'A Tomb with a View' and loved it. This is a beautiful, poetic journey which not only captures the mystery and atmosphere of churches in the landscape but also offers an incredibly moving social history of contemporary lives blighted by pandemic, poverty and homelessness. While churches hold an irresistable but secular attraction for atheist church-crawlers like me, this book reminds me that these sacred spaces provide shelter and a sense of peace for people whose lives are broken and, even more importantly, hope for a better future.

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