Ranworth rood screen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ranworth Rood Screen with annotations |
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| Artist | unknown English |
| Year | 15th Century |
| Location | St Helen's Church, Ranworth, Norfolk, England |
The Ranworth Rood Screen is a very special and old wooden screen found in a church in Ranworth, England. It's one of the best examples of a rood screen from the Middle Ages, a time long ago. This screen is famous because it survived a period called the English Reformation, when many old church artworks were destroyed.
Experts believe the screen was built in the 15th century, which means it's over 500 years old! The beautiful paintings on it were likely added around the same time. You can find this amazing piece of history in St Helen's Church in Ranworth, Norfolk.
Contents
What is a Rood Screen?
A rood screen is a special wooden or stone screen that separates the main part of a church from the area near the altar. In old churches, it was common to have these screens. They often had beautiful carvings and paintings of saints and other religious figures. The word "rood" comes from an old word for a cross or crucifix, which would often be placed on top of the screen.
Who is on the Ranworth Rood Screen?
The Ranworth Rood Screen is covered with detailed paintings of many different saints. These paintings tell stories and show important figures from Christian history. The screen is divided into different sections, and each section features specific saints.
Saints on the North Side
On the north side of the screen, you can find paintings of several important saints. This area is sometimes called the St John the Baptist Chapel. The saints here include:
- St Etheldreda
- St Agnes
- St John the Baptist
- St Barbara
Saints on the North Wing
Moving along the screen, the north wing also features more saints. These figures were important in medieval times and often had interesting stories. Here you will see:
- St George, famous for the legend of the dragon
- St Stephen, one of the first Christian martyrs
- A Bishop, possibly St Felix
The Twelve Apostles in the Center
The very center of the rood screen is dedicated to the Twelve Apostles. These were the main followers of Jesus. They are split into two groups, one on the left and one on the right.
Left Side Apostles
On the left side of the central screen, you will find these apostles:
Right Side Apostles
On the right side, the other apostles are painted:
Saints on the South Wing
The south wing of the screen also displays important figures. These include:
- Archbishop Thomas Becket, a famous English archbishop
- St Lawrence
- St Michael, the archangel
Saints on the South Side
Finally, on the south side, sometimes called The Lady Chapel, you will see more female saints. These include:
- St Mary Salome
- The Virgin Mary
- St Mary Cleophas
- St Margaret of Antioch
Why is it so Special?
The Ranworth Rood Screen is special because it's one of the few medieval screens that survived the iconoclasm of the English Reformation. During this time, many religious artworks were destroyed because of changes in religious beliefs. The survival of this screen means we can still see the amazing art and craftsmanship from hundreds of years ago. It helps us understand what churches looked like and how people expressed their faith in the Middle Ages.
Images for kids
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St Barbara
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St Barbara (close-up)
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St Laurence
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