English Churches in Europe : An architectural and social history

Tells the story of the 300 Anglican churches in Europe which were built, mainly in Victorian times, to serve British communities of expatriates and visitors, who came for health and leisure pursuits. Richly illustrated with over 500 historical and recent images.

Tells the story of the 300 Anglican churches in Europe which were built, mainly in Victorian times, to serve British communities of expatriates and visitors, who came for health and leisure pursuits. Richly illustrated with over 500 historical and recent images.


Anglican worship on mainland Europe dates from the Reformation, from Calais (English until 1558) to trading centres such as Antwerp and Smyrna, and later possessions including Gibraltar and Malta. After 1815, peace and railways encouraged British travel and settlement, carrying the Church of England to places shaped by trade, health and leisure. Some congregations were seasonal, meeting in hotels or shared spaces, while others built churches funded by subscriptions or local benefactors. Local and British architects, including G. E. Street and A. W. Blomfield, designed buildings ranging from locally influenced to distinctly "English". From the Alps and the Riviera to Baku and Archangel, churches served diverse expatriate communities amid debates over liturgy and architectural style. By 1914 nearly 300 English churches existed in Europe, many still in use today. In this lively account, James Bettley traces their development-especially the Victorian boom-illustrated with over 500 images and supported by a comprehensive gazetteer.