rood loft

Whether or no the setting up of the rood in the rood loft will ever again become customary in the English Church, is a question time alone can solve.

Access was generally gained to the rood loft by a newel staircase cut either in the north or south wall of the chancel, and occasionally the staircase existed on both sides.

It has also been stated that the Gospel and Epistle, and various other parts of the service, were read from the rood loft.

It must not, however, be taken for granted that a rood loft existed in every church.

Looking at examples of this period we generally find the rood loft projected a little forward over the screen, the angle thus formed being filled with groined work, springing from the protruding supports of the screen beneath.