medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
I should be interested in comments about what seem to be wide differences in
policy regarding doors in mediaeval churches.
A recent post spoke of small churches in the Beaune with only one door, on
the west. I am familiar with very small English and Cornish parish churches
which nonetheless have at least three doors: the so-called 'normal', south
door, where the porch usually is and where marriage and other contracts were
made; the west door, used at Corpus Christi and nearly always now totally
unused, if not boarded up, since the death of Mary Tudor or so; and the north
door, often known as the Devil's door, and in some areas traditionally the
women's door, also nowadays and for some centuries unused. In addition, even
small churches may have a priest's door into the chancel, and a vestry door,
although my impression is that vestry doors are usually not mediaeval.
I had thought that all these doors were not only for convenience, but had
liturgical value; but if they were dictated or at least suggested by the
liturgy, why was there not more uniformity in architecture?
Susan
[log in to unmask]
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
|