Screens are used to separate the main part of the church, the nave, from the chancel.
There are two types of screen, Chancel and Rood, both serve the same purpose.
In the medieval period, as in several churches today, the nave was used for secular events, the parish church being the only public meeting place in a community. A screen therefore was necessary in order to preserve the dignity of the Presbytery.
A chancel screen is constructed of carved stone, wood or ironwork, and usually are quite plane.
Rood screens on the other hand are very decorative, most are pierced with traceries lights and have a central opening and gate which affords access to the chancel.
They are richly decorated with coloured and gilded carvings, the panels below the tracery of the screen sometimes contain painted figures of the saints.
A simple method of telling them apart is that if the screen has a cross or crucifix on it, then that is a Rood screen.
Written and contributed by Philip Lloyd.
