This rood screen is one of the best examples of 15th century screen painting in England. Such paintings are not common and few have the quality shown here at Barton Turf. During the Reformation, images of many saints were ‘defaced’, rendering the characters unidentifiable, but here fortunately, little damage was inflicted.
The church takes its name from St Michael and All Angels. The screen illustrates the Nine Orders of Angels as well as three female saints popular in the 15th century.
“Rood” comes from Old English and means cross. In the 15th century the rood beam, running along the top of the screen, would have supported a central cross with the crucified Christ flanked by the Virgin Mary on the left with St John the Evangelist on the right. The Gospel was read from the rood beam and the opening for the stairs leading up to the rood loft remains.
In the medieval church the rood screen separated the clergy and the liturgy from the nave of the church where the congregation stood.
The following description and photographs of the rood screen in Barton Turf church are taken from a guide entitled The Rood Screen at St Michael and All Angels which can be purchased in the church.
King Henry VI - a panel of the Rood Screen
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Thrones - a panel of the Rood Screen
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