Twelve churches An unlikely history of the buildings that made Christianity

Many books have been written on the history of Christianity, but Anglican priest Butler-Gallie (Touching Cloth: Confessions and Communions of a Young Priest) takes readers on a unique journey through the lens of Christian architecture, reframing the traditional dry history into a series of deep dives into the history and culture surrounding 12 specific churches. From the solemnity of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem to the more modern historical perspectives of U.S. churches such as the First Meeting House in Salem, MA, and the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL, this book is an odyssey across the globe to explore how and why Christianity developed the way it did. Each of the 12 churches visited in the book serves as a narrative doorway to discuss broader cultural, political, and theological shifts. Butler-Gallie's tone is humorous and slightly irreverent while still respectful of the topics and sites he explores. VERDICT A brilliant book, recommended for those who enjoy reading about Christianity from an intersectional perspective.--Jennifer Moore

A dozen disparate churches that exemplify the story of the Christian faith. Anglican priest Butler-Gallie explores Christianity through an examination of 12 churches. The churches that Butler-Gallie has chosen to highlight span the globe, but more importantly exemplify various aspects of Christian life and culture through time. This is no tour guide's introduction to famous buildings; instead, the author utilizes these churches as stepping stones from which to pursue stories and uncover truisms about the Christian faith. Each church is selected for specific reasons, as entrées into deeper discussions. For instance, Canterbury Cathedral in England, site of the brutal murder of Thomas Becket in 1170, leads the author into a discussion of the role of violence throughout Christian history. The Templo de Las Américas, in the Dominican Republic, site of the first simple church erected by Christopher Columbus and his settlers in 1494, serves as a focal point for discussing the spread of Christianity to the Western Hemisphere and the cultural clashes that came with it. Butler-Gallie's thought-provoking work takes the reader to both famous and little-known churches in places as diverse as Ethiopia, Greece, and Japan. "These churches," the author notes, meaning all the churches these 12 represent, "are where the intimate and the universal meet." Indeed, Butler-Gallie's approach delves into the personal stories of individual believers, many of them ordinary Christians, while also looking for the essence of what Christianity is from the perspective of a believer and a historian. The attempt, though sometimes winding and drawn out, leads the reader along a thoughtful, humane, and open-minded journey across time and place to discover the Christian faith at its best, worst, and most mundane. It's a trip worth taking. Fresh and accessible approach to church history. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

church; churches, travel; religion; theology; Christianity; Christians; architecture; stone; worship; chapel; altar; service; buildings; bible; faith; history; ancient; medieval; spirituality; emperor; Christ; pilgrimage; monks; Ark of the Covenant; Bethlehem; Israel-Palestine; Hagia Sophia; Istanbul; Turkey; Mount Athos; Greece; St Peter's; The Vatican; Vatican City; Canterbury Cathedral; Kent; United Kingdom; Lalibela, Ethiopia; Jerusalem; Kasuga, Japan; Dominican Republic; Salem, Massachusetts; Zanzibar, Tanzania; Selma, Alabama; Lagos, Nigeria; Venice, Italy; Delhi, India. Excerpted from Twelve Churches: An Unlikely History of the Buildings That Made Christianity by Fergus Butler-Gallie All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.