Author & Commissioning Editor
I’ve written four books on England’s cathedrals and churches.
I have recently published Divine Light, the Stained Glass of England’s Cathedrals featuring 900 years of stained glass, with at least one window from every Anglican cathedral.
I commission books and souvenir guides on European places of worship.
Divine Light
The Stained Glass of England’s Cathedrals
My fourth beautifully illustrated paperback, Divine Light: The Stained Glass of England’s Cathedrals, tells the story of the extraordinary stained glass of England’s Anglican cathedrals through 50 remarkable windows spanning over 900 years - from Canterbury Cathedral’s 12th-century miracle windows to major contemporary commissions from Thomas Denny and Mel Howse.
Created in collaboration with all 42 Church of England cathedrals, together with Westminster Abbey and St George’s Chapel, Windsor, the book reveals what is arguably one of England’s greatest but most overlooked national collections — overlooked because it remains magnificently in situ in our working cathedral buildings.
Published by Kulturalis, the book is available through cathedral shops, Amazon UK and US, and directly through CPO (link below).
The publication of Divine Light led to a major social media campaign run by the Association of English Cathedrals over Advent and Christmas 2025–26, featuring one cathedral window each day. The campaign attracted more than 110,000 engagements and culminated in a nationwide public vote to find England’s favourite cathedral stained glass window.
The resulting media interest included newspaper coverage, television appearances, and an interview with Nick Robinson on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, alongside an ongoing series of lectures at venues including the V&A, Westminster Abbey, Canterbury Cathedral, Lichfield Cathedral, and for organisations such as the Churches Conservation Trust.
Reviews and Features
V&A Lecture, 2 October 2025
Divine Light: The Stained Glass of England’s Cathedrals launch lecture, onsite and online.
Simon Heffer, The Telegraph, 30 August 2025
“Excellent new book on the stained glass of England’s Anglican cathedrals.”
“Divine Light is divided into three parts, all of them packed with superb colour photographs.”
Andy Marshall, Genius Loci Digest, 29 August 2025
“This is my kind of book – a beautifully pocketable book – one to slip into a bag or jacket pocket, to take with you on your journey. Through its pages, the world is revealed in microcosm: a window into another realm of colour, a prism through which buildings, glass, and light can be experienced.”
About previous books:
“An absolutely delightful book, a perfect size to have in the car when visiting the cathedrals which of course are one of the great glories of England.”
“This little book is a terrific account of what is actually interesting about England's cathedrals reflecting the modern taste for concise text that takes the reader straight to the most illuminating points and covering all the cathedrals (in England).”
“Janet’s knowledge and passion shine through the pages of this small but perfectly formed paperback. The book is a slim 96 pages, so it is portable and won’t take up valuable space on your bookshelves. The high production values of the book make it ideal for a coffee table, or even a breakfast bar and it serves as a thorough introduction to the glories of England’s 44 cathedrals.”
After sales of over 5,500 copies, Cathedrals of the Church of England has been completely updated with input for each cathedral and new entries on Westminster Abbey and St German Cathedral of the Isle of Man. Published 2020. A further reprint is due in October 2025
My books are available for purchase in cathedral shops, on Amazon UK/US, and through CPO/Yeomans.