Walsingham's Rood -
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    Today saw the long-awaited and dreamed-for rood screen in place for its first Sunday, just in time for Christ the King. It is a lovely thing, most gracious to behold. It is integrated into the altar rail, and, so as not to be too obstructive of the view into the sanctuary, it is rather 'airy', there being only columns at the outer ends, near the piers of the chancel arch, and towards the centre, at the outside edges of the altar rail's gate. Above, supported by the columns, is an array of gothic tracery and pinnacles, all set off by gold leaf accents and crowned with the polychrome rood scene. How blessed are we! And, how beautifully, fittingly, have we blessed the Lord, very present in his tabernacle in the holy of holies!

    (Sorry! I don't know how to put pictures up here - even if I had them. I'll look into it.)

    Thanked by 2Vilyanor Salieri
  • VilyanorVilyanor
    Posts: 388
    Pics or it didn't happen.

    In all seriousness, congratulations!
    Thanked by 2M. Jackson Osborn tsoapm
  • ClergetKubiszClergetKubisz
    Posts: 1,912
    Yes, yes, send us pics! We'd love to see it!
    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,980
    A picture is worth a thousand words. Get that Kodak Brownie out of the closet and take some snapshots. ;-)
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    Well, Charles, I do have something more up to date than a Brownie. But it's still several decades old - definitely not up to date technologically. But even if I had a picture (which I could get from a friend) I stlll would not know how to put it up here. I'll have to see what can be done.

    Stay, as they say, 'tuned' (which every good musician should always do anyway!).
    Thanked by 1CharlesW
  • KyleM18
    Posts: 150
    Is this it?
    1.jpg
    975 x 325 - 89K
    Thanked by 6M. Jackson Osborn ClergetKubisz CharlesW CCooze Salieri moderntrad
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    That's it, Kyle!
    Where did you get it?
    Your picture doesn't show the rood scene atop the screen.
    Also intricate details and the contrast between the warm wood and the gold leaf is not discernible.
    I must admit that it seems a little empty when photographed.
    Another column on each side about mid-way would have been very desirable -
    but there was great concern that it be transparent and not overly obstructive of view from the nave.

    I'll see if I can get a picture with more detail and learn how to put it up here.

    Many thanks for this - where did you get it?
  • VilyanorVilyanor
    Posts: 388
    Is the "Attach a file" script text visible on your browser? That should allow you to upload a picture from your computer's local files. Maybe that's not the issue.
    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    Yes, it is.
    I think that that does it.
    I'll see if I can get a better picture.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • KyleM18
    Posts: 150
    M. Jackson Osborn: Check the website of the cathedral. The only image I could find, sorry.

    In all honesty, though, does the congregation really need to see the quire to participate in mass? In the images, I can see the altar perfectly fine.
    ***EDIT*** This one has the rood, I believe.
    14980581_10211102052335089_602246597331750768_n.jpg
    720 x 960 - 71K
    Thanked by 2M. Jackson Osborn Salieri
  • tomjaw
    Posts: 2,782
    Now this is a Rood screen...
    image

    Parish website,
    http://www.stbirinus.co.uk/church-and-davey-room-images.html
    IMG_5584.jpg
    1200 x 1600 - 604K
    Thanked by 3M. Jackson Osborn ClergetKubisz CHGiffen
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    Hoorah! Verily, it is!

    Is this your parish?
    Do they have riddle curtains as well?
  • SalieriSalieri
    Posts: 3,177
    Congratulations, Jackson, and to all the members of Walsingham, that is truly magnificent.

    When we installed the altar-rail in my parish in ... gosh, I think it was 2010--it looks like it's been there since the church was built, so it's hard to remember--I remember telling the pastor, "Now all we need is a real Rood Screen," this is exactly the kind of thing I was thinking of. In the picture below you can see the rail, and one of what we call "choir-screen lamps" that are at the corners of the rail. Incidentally, I don't remember what service this picture was taken at, but the priest in the cope is our then-pastor, the priest on his right in choir dress is our now-pastor. The world is rather small.

    image
    Thanked by 2M. Jackson Osborn CHGiffen
  • tomjaw
    Posts: 2,782
    Not my parish sadly... Dorchester-on-Thames is quite a distance from where I live. But we have been the visiting choir there a few times for their regular EF Masses.

    The Parish Priest is I believe an ex-Anglican. I think I have seen curtains during one visit!

    Here is a little article about the restoration work!,
    http://medieval-church-art.blogspot.co.uk/2008/09/dorchester-roman-catholic-church.html
    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    Beautiful, Salieri -
    Your choir screen-lamps are a stroke of genius - I've never seen such before.
    Like handsome guardians, they do make a 'statement'.

    Um,
    I can't help but notice that there seems to be some sort of red stuff on the pavement?
    Thanked by 1Salieri
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,980
    Lovely places, all.
  • SalieriSalieri
    Posts: 3,177
    Yes, there is carpeting throughout the church -- I can't begin to tell you how much I loathe it -- and yet the acoustics are still rather good. I had suggested putting in tile when we were installed the rail, but I was over-ruled. (It was less expensive to put in a little extra carpeting to match what was there, than to tile the entire sanctuary and nave. Hope springs eternal, though -- it might still happen.)
    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • tomjaw
    Posts: 2,782
    My favourite Rood screen is not far from where I live, sadly it was ripped from an Anglican Cathedral by vandals, but is now safe in the V&A.
    http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/t/the-hereford-screen/

    image
    More here,
    http://liturgyandarchitecture.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/the-chancel-screen-1-choirscreen-of.html
    Hereford.jpg
    720 x 540 - 160K
    Thanked by 2M. Jackson Osborn CHGiffen
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    You are right, tomjaw: one could not likely get any roodier -
    except that there is no rood scene atop this choir screen.
    Thanked by 1tomjaw
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,093
    It's quite interesting that in there is a scene in that supernal screen - of an appearance of the Resurrected Christ.
    Thanked by 2M. Jackson Osborn tomjaw
  • tomjaw
    Posts: 2,782
    Yes It is interesting the figure of the Resurrected Christ with attendants, almost as if it is a sort of alternative to the Rood scene... I have not seen a description and explanation of the scenes depicted.

    The back of the screen is also decorated... and is equally exquisite!
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,093
    For some reason, it's described as having six angels - there are angels with wings at the end corners, but the two pairs of figures bracketing the mandorla apparition are not winged (if you zoom in, you can see that they are not):

    https://amyfrankiesmith.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/dsc03771.jpg

    If the pair on the left had one with a beard, I'd say it was Peter and John and the other pair were Mary Magdalene and a companion, but it's not clear that's what was intended.
    Thanked by 1tomjaw
  • tomjaw
    Posts: 2,782
    Liam
    I agree, I had a feeling that the figures either side of Christ were the holy women / Peter, John.

    I have spent many a happy hour, up on that gallery... I used to arrange to meet people up there, before heading off to look at the other wonders of that museum!
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