'Prayer-Book' Parish Churches (2)Gazetteer and Map 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. 
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.
BACK to main article 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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