Wednesday, 7 May 2008

1. The high altar screen



These screens, where built, were typically toward the east end of the building, separating the high altar from a Saint's shrine beyond. They were usually only provided in major church buidlings. They are of interest here because they typically have the same double doors either side of the altar which Rakowsky suggests would have been provided for the wooden rood screens. Their purpose was to allow the clergy to pass all around the altar while censing it during the mass.

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