ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO, after he was appointed director of the V&A, Sir Roy Strong put on an exhibition, The Destruction of the English Country House 1875-1975, that was a turning point in saving these buildings.<\/p>\n
Now in his 70s, Sir Roy Strong has turned his attention to saving the English parish church, which he believes is facing crisis. But preserving the buildings in a heritage aspic \u201d\u201c like that around so many of his beloved country houses today \u201d\u201c is not his answer. Preservation is admirable, he writes in his new book, but the word has begun to take on negative connotations. A replacement is needed that shows a desire to move on. To save the parish church, he says, \u201cperhaps we need bodies whose names feature the word \u201d\u02dcadaptation\u2019 rather than \u201d\u02dcconservation\u2019 or \u201d\u02dcpreservation\u2019 \u201d\u009d.<\/p>\n
Sir Roy is infused with the love he feels for the Church, its inhabitants and its Creator. What he suggests must be taken seriously if the Church, as well as the parish church, is to survive.<\/p>\n
The writing is concise, uncluttered, clear. Even when you know the history, you still turn the pages, wanting to find out what small but telling detail he has uncovered next.<\/p>\n