Rood Loft Stairs, Church of St.Andrew, Wickham Skeith, Suffolk. IP14 4HX. - Stone Church Artefacts on Waymarking.com

This Grade I listed church is Medieval, probably built in the C14th and C15th then restored in 1857. It is relatively small consisting only of a nave, a chancel, a west tower, and north and south porches. It is built in flint rubble with stone dressings and the chancel has the remains of render, the nave has a slated roof and the chancel is plaintiled. The massive square tower is of late C14th build.

The stairs from the north side of the nave lead to the rood loft which, in Medieval times would have carried the Great Rood or 'Christ Crucified', a large carved figure of Christ on the cross, it would normally have been supported by statues of saints, The Virgin Mary and St.John were favourites. The word rood is derived from the Saxon word rood or rode, meaning "cross" or "crucifix". The rood screen (also known as the choir screen, chancel screen, or jube) is a common feature in late medieval church architecture and is typically an ornate partition between the chancel and nave, (between the laity and the clergy) of more or less open tracery constructed of wood, stone, or wrought iron. None of the screen remains here but the stair entrance, the stairs and the opening which lead onto the rood are all present.

For more information see Wikipedia, 'Rood screen'.

The co-ordinates are for the south porch.

Approximate Age of Artefact: C15th. Relevant Website: Not listed

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