“The entrance to the lowest floor was on the south side of the temple; a stairway led up to the middle level, and from there to the third.”

 

1 Kings 6:8

 

Rood Loft Staircase

          A Mysterious Stairway

There used to be a rood screen that stretched across the chancel, and attached to this was a platform. People would use the staircase to gain access to the platform. The question is why would anyone want to risk life and limb on such a precarious platform?

A popular theory surrounds the fact that the pews were only installed in 1856 and, prior to this, it is likely that congregations would stand throughout the service. In order to be able to address all of the congregation, including those at the back of the church, it was necessary to gain some sort of height advantage which the staircase provided, so the clergy could use it to address the standing congregation during the service.

In reality, however, the platform was actually used to provide access for lighting candles, and placing decorations and ornaments, although certain services may have been conducted from here.

There is nothing left of the original rood loft, although it is likely to have been quite large. It was described by Rev Raven-Hart as follows:

“On the Rood Loft there was a large “Rood” or Crucifix, on the North side of which was the Image of the Virgin Mary, and on the South of it that of St. John, the beloved disciple, all highly ornamented.”

It may have looked similar to the rood screen at St. Paul`s Church, Bedford shown on the image to the left.

It is unusual to find the Rood Loft Staircase on the South of the church. It is normally on the North of the Chancel Arch.

The decorated Rood Screen at St Paul’s church in Bedford