What was the tallest building in the world for more than 200 years? How many archbishops of Canterbury came to a grisly end? And who was the black Santa? Easily among the most beautiful and iconic buildings of the British Isles, cathedrals and abbeys have formed the cultural bedrock of the nation for centuries, and they are naturally the source of strange and intriguing facts. Illustrated throughout with engravings, this guide offers pithy, witty histories of dozens of places of worship—Exeter, Glastonbury, Leicester, St. Paul's—discussing their notable characteristics and the often extreme kings and bishops who have played out the drama of England under their roofs.