2016

SO2459 : Inside the Rood Screen

taken 8 years ago, near to Old Radnor, Powys, Wales

Inside the Rood Screen
Inside the Rood Screen
View inside the rood screen at St Stephen Old Radnor
Church of St Stephen, Old Radnor

The Cadw listing describes the church as 'One of the finest medieval churches in Wales'. The fabric is essentially 15th century, although some earlier work survives from the church sacked by Owen Glyndwr in 1401/2. There were subsequent 19th century restorations, that of 1882 including rebuilding of the east end of the chancel, although the east window may follow the original design. It is the only authentic dedication to St Stephen in Wales, although it is thought that this may be a Norman confusion of the Welsh St Ystyffan with St Stephen the Martyr. Despite being in Wales, the church comes within the Diocese of Hereford, indicative of the complex nature of the Marches.

The church consists of a continuous nave and chancel, with north and south aisles, west tower and south porch. The aisles extend as chapels alongside the chancel. The north aisle is slightly narrower of the two, the roof being a continuation of the nave roof. The south aisle has a separately ridged roof. There is an unusual unity of its Perpendicular style compared with other medieval churches due to the limited time-span of its construction.

The exterior of the church has no particular features to note, but the interior is different. A significant amount of late medieval timberwork remains. This includes the roofs to the nave and south aisle, contemporary with the building, the fine late 15th century chancel screen stretching the full width of the church, and the organ case, dating from the early 16th century and the earliest surviving organ case in the British Isles.

There are a number of fine monuments to the Lewis family of Harpton Court, and several other items of furnishings that are described with their pictures.

The church is Listed Grade I.


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Bill Nicholls and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Historic sites and artefacts Village, Rural settlement Religious sites other tags: Rood Screen Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Inside St [26] · Rood Screen [3] ·
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
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1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
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SO2459, 225 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Bill Nicholls   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Monday, 16 May, 2016   (more nearby)
Submitted
Thursday, 8 September, 2016
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SO 2499 5909 [10m precision]
WGS84: 52:13.4931N 3:5.9730W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SO 2499 5909
View Direction
EAST (about 90 degrees)
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Image Type (about): inside  close look 
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