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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture Re: [M-R] statues over choir entrance
From a Welsh perspective: some VERY small single-cell churches had surprisingly elaborate rood screens. The screen at Llananno (and I think several others) had niches for statues along the upper panels. A few examples of rood screens which bore carvings other than the Crucifixion: one reading of a rather obscure poem to the shrine of the Virgin at Penrhys is that the rood screen in the chapel there had the famous miracle-working statue of the Virgin and Child on it. At Llanbeblig (the parish church of Caernarfon) there was a carving of the Trinity on the rood screen - though this did of course include the Crucifixion. Not a free-standing statue but the cross-beam of the rood screen at Pennant Melangell has the life story of St Melangell carved on it.
 
Maddy
 
Dr Madeleine Gray
Reader in History
School of Education/Ysgol Addysg
University of Wales, Newport/Prifysgol Cymru, Casnewydd
Caerleon Campus/Campws Caerllion,
Newport/Casnewydd  NP18 3QT Tel: +44 (0)1633.432675
 
'We are not bound to win but we are bound to be true' (Barack Obama)

From: medieval-religion - Scholarly discussions of medieval religious culture on behalf of Cormack, Margaret Jean
Sent: Mon 17/05/2010 5:06 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [M-R] statues over choir entrance

medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture

A query for art and architectural historians. It is my understanding that in churches too small to
have an elaborate rood screen separating the nave from the choir, there was nonetheless likely to be a beam or other arrangement whereby it was possible to display a crucifix, with or without the Virgin Mary and John the Evangelist on either side or it. (Apologies for my lack of technical vocabulary!) My question is whether we have  examples of statues (or perhaps paintings)  of other saints in this position, marking the entrance to the choir? My second question, especially
for those knowledgeable about  the lutheran tradition, is what happened to such crucifixes and/or statues at the Reformation? I believe that in England they were ordered removed (and then put back, and removed again, accordinng to  the religious inclinations of the reigning monarch.) Also, if anyone working on post-Reformation material knows of examples of statues - especially of non-biblical individuals - being acquired and displayed by churches after the Reformation, IŽd very much like to hear about it. This all has to do with a statue of St. Olaf (a historical, if not a biblical, individual) at a church dedicated to him, which is however not attested in medieval sources. Thanks in advance,
Meg

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