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Church & Churchyard: Parish Churches in their Physical & Social Context - CED00026M

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  • Department: Centre for Lifelong Learning
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Emma Wells
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2021-22

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2021-22

Module aims

This core module engages students with the fabric of a church building in its social and physical context, in particular:

  • Considering the role the building plays now and in the past in its community
  • How its physical location reflects and/or is/was influenced by that social context.
  • How the fabric of the church relates to its locality in terms of raw materials, economy, skills
  • The ecology and management of the churchyard
  • How varying ideas and perceptions of sacredness have influenced the way churchyards and church buildings have been used, viewed and managed.
  • Drawing on a wide range of subject specialisms and skills to equip students to explore these features in the rich and complex context in which they exist.

Module learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the module, students will:

Subject content

  • Have an understanding of the study of the location of churches in relation to their immediate locality, sub-regional and regional context.
  • Based on work with practical examples, have knowledge of how to undertake the exploration of the building fabric of churches and how this relates to the local environment.
  • Engagement with the issues and problems surrounding the ecology and management of churchyards
  • Have a sound knowledge of the varying ideas and perceptions of sacredness and how these have influenced the way churchyards and church buildings have been used, viewed and managed
  • Consider how the various pressures on churchyards can be addressed and managed sensitively

Academic and graduate skills

  • Gain specific expertise in a wide range of skills from different disciplines
  • Have an understanding of specialist technical language and the ability to interpret it for lay audiences.
  • Employ interdisciplinary approaches to interpreting evidence.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
4000 word conservation management plan		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
4000 word conservation management plan		 N/A 100

Module feedback

The tutor will give regular individual verbal and written feedback throughout the module on work submitted.

The assessment feedback is as per the university’s guidelines with regard to timings.

Indicative reading

  • C. Daniell “Death and Burial in Medieval England 1066-1550” Routledge (1999)
  • D. Dyas & Christianity & Culture “The English Parish Church through the Centuries” York (2010)
  • R. Strong “A Little History of the English Country Church” Jonathan Cape (2007)
  • E. Duffy “The Voices of Morebath: Reformation and rebellion in an English village” Yale (2003)
  • C. Burgess & E. Duffy eds “The Parish in Late Medieval England” Harlaxton Medieval Studies volume XIV
  • C. King & D. Sayer “The Archaeology of Post-Medieval Religion” Society for Church Archaeology, Boydell  (2011)
  • W. Rodwell “The Archaeology of Churches” Tempus (2005).


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.