Atherington Devon
Looking north across the c 1540 north aisle rood screen & its conecting stairs. It has 5 ribs supporting the rood loft, the only complete pre-Reformation rood loft remaining in Devon. after an Elizabethan order of 1561 to demolish them.
The carving on the west side of the screen is rich with vegetation, fruit, putti, male and female heads, green men, and beasts. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/yp0b0qb96w The east side is considerably plainer.
Figures hold shields, their painted heraldry now completely lost www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/z1n31s4Qpp
The painted panels of the rood loft originally faced outwards and may have been decorated with religious figures. During the reign of Elizabeth I, however, any religious paintings were replaced with heraldic devices. Early 20c photographs show the painted panels facing outwards to the congregation , however, they have since been turned inwards in an attempt to conserve them. One panel has the arms of Basset quartered with Beaumont and Willington. Another, now faded, was decorated with the Royal arms, while a third has the the incription, "God save the Church, our Queen Elizabeth and Realm, and grant us pleace and truth in Christ. Amen."
The screen and loft were carved between 1544 and 1547, at a cost of at least £14 7s 5d. Work on the screen was started by John Parrys of Northlew, but was completed by Roger Down and John Hill of Chittlehampton. The final amount must have been more than the original estimate for the work, and the villagers refused to pay more than £10 resulting in the woodcarvers having to take a lawsuit to the Court of Chancery
- Church of St Mary, Atherington Devon
Picture with thanks - copyright Michael Garlick CCL www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6900281
Atherington Devon
Looking north across the c 1540 north aisle rood screen & its conecting stairs. It has 5 ribs supporting the rood loft, the only complete pre-Reformation rood loft remaining in Devon. after an Elizabethan order of 1561 to demolish them.
The carving on the west side of the screen is rich with vegetation, fruit, putti, male and female heads, green men, and beasts. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/yp0b0qb96w The east side is considerably plainer.
Figures hold shields, their painted heraldry now completely lost www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/z1n31s4Qpp
The painted panels of the rood loft originally faced outwards and may have been decorated with religious figures. During the reign of Elizabeth I, however, any religious paintings were replaced with heraldic devices. Early 20c photographs show the painted panels facing outwards to the congregation , however, they have since been turned inwards in an attempt to conserve them. One panel has the arms of Basset quartered with Beaumont and Willington. Another, now faded, was decorated with the Royal arms, while a third has the the incription, "God save the Church, our Queen Elizabeth and Realm, and grant us pleace and truth in Christ. Amen."
The screen and loft were carved between 1544 and 1547, at a cost of at least £14 7s 5d. Work on the screen was started by John Parrys of Northlew, but was completed by Roger Down and John Hill of Chittlehampton. The final amount must have been more than the original estimate for the work, and the villagers refused to pay more than £10 resulting in the woodcarvers having to take a lawsuit to the Court of Chancery
- Church of St Mary, Atherington Devon
Picture with thanks - copyright Michael Garlick CCL www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6900281