Stories of the men and women known as the saints of Wales suggest that they were once widely revered as the patrons and protectors of churches and holy wells across Wales in the Middle Ages, and their names and legends have become embedded in place-names and folklore.
Most of the medieval sculpture, painting and stained glass that visualised the saints has been lost but a wealth of imagery since the mid-nineteenth century can be found in Welsh churches. In this book Martin Crampin has gathered together a glowing treasury of images in stained glass, sculpture and other media, hardly any of which has been seen in print before. Over 500 beautiful photographs from nearly 250 churches across Wales tell a story of the place of the saints in Welsh religious culture and as national figures. The book also offers fresh perspectives on the art in our churches by comparing the treatment of common subjects in different media and by contrasting artists and studios.
