The lost churches of Russia: Haunting images of abandoned wooden buildings crumbling to dust in remote forests



Crumbling and abandoned, the last remnants of Russia's wooden churches lay dotted in the woodlands of the country's north-western corner.

Forgotten by many and in the process of being reclaimed by nature, the few remaining churches are exposed to the harsh elements without any hope of being salvaged.

But one photographer is determined to capture pictures of the forgotten structures - with sometimes haunting results.

Preserved: This intricately designed church stands alone and forgotten under the wide blue sky

Ramshackle: This church teeters on the brink of collapse, its foundations appearing to sink into the earth

All alone: Blanketed under a thick coating of snow, this church is one of many left without care or attention

Unused: The project has revealed the beautiful, but abandoned, wooden churches that are gradually tumbling down

Richard Davies spent nine years tracking down the lost churches, and produced a book with the stunning photographs.

Along with the photographs, there are first-hand accounts by Matilda Moreton of their project, and the insights and interpretations of writers and artists, travellers and historians, propagandists and politicians.

In his book Wooden Churches - Travelling in the Russian North, it says that the churches are the few remains of thousands that were built all over Russia from the time of Prince Vladimir, who, on his conversion to Christianity in 988 'ordained that wooden churches should be built and established where pagan idols had previously stood.'

The majority are clustered in the north-west corner, and bunched in certain areas like Leningrad, Vologda, Murmansk, and Archangel Regions and the Republic of Karelia.

These fragile, desecrated structures are on the verge of extinction, as no one has acted to care for them

The churches were constructed from the time of Prince Vladimir, who, on his conversion to Christianity in 988, commanded they should be built

The book claims that one of the treasures of Russia's architecture and history will be lost

The photographer's adventure began after he learned of artist Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin, his website says.

In 1902 Bilibinm spent time photographing and studying local folk art in North Russia's Vologda Province.



He used his work for an article he penned in 1904 which he lamented the pitiful state of wooden churches.



In a scathing attack he wrote: 'In the hands of uncivilized people, they are being vandalised to the point of destruction or are ruined with "restoration" to the point of being unrecognisable'.



Most of those that survive are found in the sparsely populated north-western corner of Russia, where few can appreciate the majesty of the buildings

Some of the treasured artwork remains unscathed, despite years of neglect

The churches have crumbled away through neglects, lightning attacks, rot and one church was hit by a tractor

His photographs were published as postcards in 1911 by the Society of the St Eugenia Community as part of a drive for funds for its charitable work.



It was these postcards that captured Richard's imagination, and in 2002 he began explorig the Russian north to see what remained of the churches, returning on fresh trips to gather more information and pictures.



He says that the churches have crumbled away through neglects, lightning attacks, rot and one church 'tumbled like a pack of cards' after a tractor reversed into it.



The photographer says: 'These fragile, desecrated structures retain a spiritual presence that commands respect even in the absence of their gilded icons.



'They are nearing the end of their days.

'It is extraordinary that a country as rich and powerful as Russia, with a cultural legacy beyond compare, should let these wonderful, life-enhancing treasures slip through its fingers.'



To see more of Richard Davies stunning work, visit http://www.richarddavies.co.uk/woodenchurches

Neglected: The remaining few extraordinary structures are barely used across the country