Exploring Essex Churches

Enjoy looking at the variety of churches in Essex with John Vigar who will introduce you to their history, architecture and furnishings.

John Vigar`s specialist subject is ecclesiology – the study of church architecture and associated topics. He has written extensively on the subject and leads regular tours to churches across England, both as part of his own programme of activities, and for other organisations including Denman College and The Ecclesiological Society.

He is particularly interested in nineteenth century church restoration and his MA thesis was written on the subject of Church Restoration in the Diocese of Rochester. John has written the guidebooks for several hundred churches and is the author of books on the churches of both Kent and Sussex.

He has visited and recorded over 13,000 of the 16,000 Anglican churches in England and Wales.

Following a career in academia John worked for 13 years in the south-east region of The Churches Conservation Trust and he is a Trustee of a national charity, The Friends of Friendless Churches.

John is a member of the Advisory Council of The Norfolk Churches Trust and has previously served as Hon Sec of the Ledgerstone Survey of England and Wales and as Photographic Curator of The Kempe Society. He is a member of the Academic Advisory Board of the Centre for Parish Church Studies.