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The English Church

All Episodes

  • Ended
  • #<Network:0x00007f4d3b68ce48>
  • 30m
  • United Kingdom
  • Documentary
The story of The English Church is the story of England. These fine buildings contain untold treasures and historical artefacts, while their changing architecture and decoration captures English history, literally in stone. In this critically acclaimed Channel 4 series, writer and broadcaster Simon Jenkins takes you on a fascinating journey through the history of the English Church, visiting some of the very finest surviving examples.

6 episodes

Series Premiere

1x01 Conquest

Series Premiere

1x01 Conquest

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Simon Jenkins tells the story of belief in England through its churches. He starts by exploring the conquest that turned England from paganism to piety.

1x02 Control

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The medieval church was so powerful that it dominated every aspect of people's lives. Simon Jenkins visits churches that tell the story of this pre-eminence and the methods used to preserve it.

1x03 Power

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The medieval church wasn't just powerful - it dominated every aspect of people's lives. In the third programme in this series, Simon Jenkins examines the impact of new money on church design.

1x04 Revolution

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In 1534, England began a revolution as cataclysmic as those later experienced by France or Russia - the Reformation. But, as presenter Simon Jenkins finds out, it was not all destructive.

1x05 Decadence

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By the 17th century, the Church of England should have been all-powerful. It had split from Rome and was rich and influential but, as Simon Jenkins finds out, it fell into decadence and decline.

1x06 Renaissance

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In this final episode, writer and presenter Simon Jenkins explores the English church renaissance of the Victorians, who rekindled the awe and wonder of the middle ages.

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