Every once in a while a book comes along which you know will stay with you for a very long time. This week saw the publication of the much anticipated Forgotten Churches-Exploring England’s Hidden Churches by Luke Sherlock and this is unquestionably one of those.

Luke Sherlock an author who also owns an independent bookshop in Frome, Somerset called Sherlock and Pages has written a beautiful account of his travels across England in search of some of its finest yet overlooked churches. That his Instagram handle is @englishpilgrim is very apt as this book is certainly a pilgrimage of which he has undertaken many.

Like the subject matter, this is a quiet, reflective exploration of some of England’s oldest and most remarkable historical buildings and an urgent reminder of what we have and what we stand to lose. Indeed, if it weren’t for the faithful few many more of our churches would have been left to ruin. But rather than lecture the reader, Sherlock invites us to ponder and reflect and perhaps look at how we can play our part in maintaining this heritage, believers or not.

The book is full of incredible illustrations by Ioana Pioaru, a Romanian-British artist based in West Sussex. The detail in her ink drawings are remarkable and the book is worth buying for the art alone, choosing her was an inspired choice by Sherlock.

This is also a travelogue, Sherlock endears the reader with personal reflections showing what a labour of love this book was for him. If, like me, you enjoy visiting old churches you will readily identify with his sentiments. There is such a sense of calm that comes with visiting an ancient church and Sherlock’s writing inspires the reader to seek out such places and absorb their history.

The chosen churches are reassuringly varied in both location and type. From Saxon and Norman to Gothic and Georgian, each has a story of its own to tell, mostly one of resilience. Sherlock said he could have written about many more, I hope he does and if the artist takes up the commission that would be okay too.

Published by Frances Lincoln 2025. Illustrations by Iona Pioaru-find her on Instagram @ionapioaru