Simon Jenkins tells the story of belief in England through its churches. He starts by exploring the conquest that turned England from paganism to piety.
The medieval church was so powerful that it dominated every aspect of people's lives. Simon Jenkins visits churches that tell the story of this pre-eminence and the methods used to preserve it.
The medieval church wasn't just powerful - it dominated every aspect of people's lives. In the third programme in this series, Simon Jenkins examines the impact of new money on church design.
In 1534, England began a revolution as cataclysmic as those later experienced by France or Russia - the Reformation. But, as presenter Simon Jenkins finds out, it was not all destructive.
By the 17th century, the Church of England should have been all-powerful. It had split from Rome and was rich and influential but, as Simon Jenkins finds out, it fell into decadence and decline.
In this final episode, writer and presenter Simon Jenkins explores the English church renaissance of the Victorians, who rekindled the awe and wonder of the middle ages.