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Panels are (left to right) representing (1) the Cherubim with six wings, feathers covered with eyes indicating omniscience and arms raised in devotion to God, (2) Principalities winged in human form - God's messengers, (3) Thrones supporting the thrones of God, symbols of justice and authority, (4) Archangels represented by Archangel Michael the captain of the heavenly host, (5) Angels represented by a figure with four red wings and a golden crown, two kneeling naked figures represent human souls in adoration, (6) St Barbara a third century virgin martyr - the patron saint of gunsmiths, artillerymen and miners, and is prayed to as protection against lightning danger. See below for explanation of the angel hierarchy - the Nine Orders of Angels.
According to the locally available leaflet, this rood screen is one of the best examples of 15th century screen painting in England. Unlike a number of other screens I have seen in Norfolk churches, the images here received relatively little damage during the Reformation. Only two of the twelve panels of the rood screen have had the faces scratched out
As the church is devoted to St Michael and All Angels, it is perhaps not surprising that one of the main themes of the screen is angelic. According to the local leaflet, the screen illustrates the Nine Orders of Angels and three female saints popular in the 15th century, Sts Apollonia and Zita (known in England as St Sitha) on the left side and St Barbara on the right side. On a screen to the far right, there are later paintings of four kings.
In the 5th century the Nine Orders of Angels were arranged in three hierarchies or choirs:
First hierarchy Counsellors: Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones
Second hierarchy Governors: Dominions, Virtues and Powers
Third hierarchy Messengers: Principalities, Angels and Archangels
Here the Seraphim and Cherubim are placed either side of the chancel arch, the holiest positions.
The local leaflet says the church is a mixture of periods from the early 14th century arcades to the perpendicular aisles. The armour worn by Archangels Michael and Raphael suggests a date of 1440-50 for the screen. There was great Flemish influence in England at this time and the screen may have been painted by a Flemish artist or by a local artist influenced by the Flemish style.
Documents date the church back to 1369 but likely it's older.
In fact, the church was built adjacent to a convent founded in 1280, which later became the seat of the court of the inquisition.
Church dedicated to the Dominican monk Peter , killed in 1252 by the Cathars on his way from Como to Milan .
Original apse rebuilt 1645 . In 1776 the adjoining convent was suppressed. The apse modified again in 1817 and the bell tower was also remodeled in the same year.
Under the altar is the urn that holds the body of St. Prospero martyr , moved to Monza from the Roman catacombs of Sant'Agnese .
On the square in front of the facade is the monument to Mosè Bianchi , a painter from Monza.
A view from north to south of the remaining tower structures. After the dissolution of the monasteries in 1536, Henry VIII's officers removed the lead from the church roof and Kirkstall Abbey was left to disintegrate. The church roof, west wall and vaulting collapsed by 1746 and the church tower collapsed in 1779,