Ranworth St Helen

Norfolk, the county where I now live, has the greatest

concentration of mediaeval churches anywhere in

the world - 650 of the original 900 remain and are the

spiritual and visual focus of the landscape.

At first glance the rood screen doesn't seem very exciting
but come a little closer and you'll see what I mean.

These churches contain many priceless mediaeval works

of art and craftmanship which are part of our heritage

and are visited by thousands of people every year

from all corners of the globe and beyond?

Some of the good ladies of the Parish have been
making kneelers again I see.  Shame they all had to
share the same pattern.

Today I was one of them when I went to see Ranworth's

celebrated rood screen which is only a ten minute

drive from the Lock-Up.

See all the wonderful detail on this guy's frock when you get up close.

The structure and design of the screen are elaborate

and it's decoration is arguably the finest 15th century example

you're likely to find for many a long mile.

I had to take this twice, St Barbara just wouldn't keep
her feather still.

There's saints galore who will protect you from apocalyptic catastrophe,

childbirth and possibly even musical instruments if I read the symbolism

correctly; a breast-feeding Virgin Mary, 

dragons with one or several heads, Archbishops and

enough angels to fill all the pews should the

congregation suddenly dwindle as in times of pestilence

and plague.  

That's one cool dragon.

And today there was even a serial sinner (me) to be found on her hands

and knees in front of the magnificent screen much to the alarm

of a couple of tourists from Germany who happened to rock up

about five minutes after me.  Too late to seek forgiveness for

all my many sins but not too late to take some close up photo's

of all the elaborate decoration on the panels to give inspiration

for future designs.

Must be St Peter - he was a fisherman.

All in all a good afternoon out if you're into that sort of thing

and so wonderfully calm and cool on a hot summer's afternoon

in good old Norfolk.