Norfolk has the greatest concentration of medieval churches in the world – 659 in one county – and this wealth of history is open to everyone. From Bears to Bishops focuses on the medieval wood and stone carving on display in these churches, all of it about 500 years old or more. The size and splendour of the buildings themselves can sometimes distract from the detail revealed in this book.
The book contains 156 high quality black and white photos mainly of oak bench ends but also stone font panels and corbels. ‘Black and white enhances the detail and texture of the wood and stone in a graphic and often atmospheric way,’ says photographer Paul Harley. ‘It helps to reveal the skill and imagination of the anonymous craftsmen who present their world to us. The voices from long ago speak to us still, revealing our terrors, suspicions and desires in lumps of wood and stone.’
Dr Rebecca Pinner of UEA says in her foreword: ‘This is a beautiful, surprising and important volume that will stand for many years to come as a key point of departure for all who want to discover and explore the artistic gems preserved within the treasure hoards of Norfolk’s medieval churches.’
From Bears to Bishops contains a useful index of more than 60 featured churches and an historical essay by the photographer on the development of seating arrangements and carving in churches before the Reformation.
Available from mid September 2018 but you can order now from Mascot Media.
120 pages (220mmx 220mm), softback. ISBN: 978-1-9998457-6-6 UK price: £17.95 Published by Mascot Media Email: info@mascotmedia.co.uk
http://www.mascotmedia.co.uk/books/from-bears-to-bishops.html
Paul Harley Photographer 
This looks great, Paul. I am familiar with a few of these carvings but not many. Good luck with the book.
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Thank you Laurence.
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Sounds terrific. I have seen some of Harley’s photos online and look forward to getting the physical book. These churches may disappear into house conversions before long. Many churches elsewhere are being sold off by http://www.ukauctIonlist.com, whether listed or not. Harley is a wonderful, very sensitive photographer.
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Paul – I went to buy it but they wanted to drag me through heaps of questions! Will it be on Amazon? If not, I’ll fill in all the forms, but people just will not slog through those forms and passwords, I promise.
Book looks wonderful and congratulations on completing it. I look forward to my own copy.
David
On Thu, 30 Aug 2018 at 12:48, Paul Harley Photographer wrote:
> paulharley posted: “Norfolk has the greatest concentration of medieval > churches in the world – 659 in one county – and this wealth of history is > open to everyone. From Bears to Bishops focuses on the medieval wood and > stone carving on display in these churches, all of it abo” >
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It will be on Amazon, but I’m not sure when. The launch is 22 Sept. I should have a physical copy in my hands on about 15th Sept – it may be that’s when the publishers will put it on there. Jarrolds have bought 40 – not much good for you in Spain or the Middle East! is buying from their website that tricky? It didn’t look any worse than anywhere else – just a hassle setting it up perhaps. At the moment it’s post free. Hope all’s well.
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Congratulations, Paul! This looks like a book I would love to have; it is going on my wish list.
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Yes, on my wish list, too! This is the ultimate Christmas gift for everyone!
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Hello Paul—Have enjoyed viewing the various pictures and items. Thanks to Judith who gave us the details to “log in”.
Congratulations–Vic & Stella
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A rare treasure! From Bears to Bishops is a stunningly beautiful collection that merges the soul of the very exciting photographer, Paul Harley, with the soul of his place, Norfolk. His wonderfully detailed photos exude a sense of patience–as if he had coaxed his subjects to come out of the past and live in our time. Like all of Harley’s portraits, his photographs communicate the honoring of his subjects, so that even wooden and stone figures feel animated. Through intense study, this very original photographer redeems the almost-forgotten medieval characters in present time, and we are so fortunate to be able to listen in to their secret conversations.
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Thank you for your generous comments. I hope that I have shown the life in some of these inanimate objects, interpreting anew for people in the 21st century.
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Congratulations, Paul. It’s a wonderful book, first introduced to me by James Ramsay. We discussed the mystery play and took a closer look at carvings and craftsmanship in local mediaeval churches. Your photographs and descriptons were a great help!
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Thank you Dina, I met and had a good talk with James on Wednesday.
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