Andrew Ziminski: Book Launch

Join acclaimed stonemason and author Andrew Ziminski for the paperback launch of his new book Church Going—a profound and personal exploration of England’s ancient churches, told through the eyes (and hands) of one of its most skilled traditional craftsmen.

Church Going is a journey across the country and through time—into Saxon crypts, crumbling Norman towers, and medieval chancels—tracing the stories embedded in stone, timber, and stained glass. This is not just an architectural history; it is a meditation on faith, community, and continuity, offering a mason’s-eye view of how the sacred has shaped our built landscape.

Building on the critical acclaim of his first book, The Stonemason, Church Going will be a useful handbook on the architecture, fixtures, furnishings, and artworks that await discovery in our island’s churches.​

This second book is equally rich in anecdote, craft, and care. Expect tales of hands-on conservation, archaeological discovery, and the strange beauty of rural England’s most quietly powerful spaces.

This intimate evening with the author will appeal to anyone interested in architecture, heritage, spirituality—or simply the enduring magic of old churches.

About the Author

Andrew Ziminski is a SPAB Fellow and founding partner of the Somerset-based firm Minerva Stone Conservation. He has worked on hundreds of historic structures across the West Country and beyond.

Andrew has worked as a church stonemason throughout the English Westcountry for the past thirty-five years. Over that time, he has visited over half of Britain and Ireland’s eleven thousand churches of medieval origin.

The event takes place at The Architect, Bristol, BS1 4QA