Ranworth, St Helen: A Stunning Late Medieval Screen

 

St Helen, Ranworth, set on the rising ground near to Ranworth Broad, is a handsome church that contains some of the most important late medieval 'material culture' in Britain (more of that later). It is also a church close to my heart, being the first Norfolk church I ever visited. At the time I knew next to nothing about medieval churches and was pretty much content to climb the tower and admire the view across the broads in the company of close friends. 

Nowadays, I am more attentive to visions like this: a rather fine set of fifteenth century perpendicular windows with the East Anglian flint glinting in the sunshine. 

Whilst, on the south face of the tower, I note the presence of a fossilised 'cast' of a long departed echinoid ('Sea Urchin') that, millions of years ago, fell into the primordial 'sludge' at the bottom of a shallow tropical sea. It is a reminder of the vast span of time beyond that which traditional historians focus upon. 

Inside the spacious interior, the sun shimmers as I look westwards along the nave aisle towards the font and lofty tower arch. Just inside the main door, secure within its display case, lies the beautiful 'Ranworth Antiphoner'...

An 'antiphoner' describes a medieval service book - and this is one of rare quality. According to the Ranworth website, it is thought to originate from a scriptorium in one of the great religious buildings in Norwich around 1460. It was most likely commissioned as a display book by a wealthy local patron. As you can see, above, it is a stunning survivor... talking of which!

Here is the famous painted Rood Screen flanked by the reredoses of nave altars. The central panels depict the twelve apostles. According to a report of the Society of Antiquaries (quoted in 'Norfolk Churches', Mortlock & Roberts):

'[They] form a composition which is unequalled by any existing in a district famous for its screens. As a whole, it may be said that there is nothing of the sort remaining to equal it in England.'

I always take time to stand beneath the central arch and look up at the stunning vaulting above, described by Audrey Baker as forming, 'a complicated design based on pinks/carnations (symbolising pure Love) in a combination of stencilled and freehand work [...]. The small blue flowers, which were probably indigo, have faded unevenly. There are remains of lead flowers on the ribs.' ('English Panel Painting 1450-1558: A Survey of Figure Paintings on East Anglian Rood Screens')

The saints depicted on the north altarpiece (Saint John the Baptist Chapel) are (from left to right): St Etheldreda; an anonymous young archbishop; St John the Baptist; St Barbara. 

The saints in the southern alterpiece of the Lady Chapel (from left to right) are: St Mary Salome; The Virgin Mary; St Mary Cleophas; St Margaret of Antioch

I will conclude by featuring two of my personal favourite panels, situated on the parclose screens either side of the central apostle panels. The panel, above, depicts St George slaying the dragon. Below is the Archangel Michael wearing a serene expression as he wields his sword above his head, having already severed one of the heads of the many-headed beast beneath his elegant bear feet. 

The inclusion of these two military saints suggests they were placed as sentinels either side of the entrance, protecting the holiest area of the church east of the screen. 

Postscript: the beauty of this screen is, in part, testimony to the sensitive conservation work undertaken by Pauline Plummer and her assistants in the 1970s. 

I can recommend the following websites if you wish to learn more about this wonderful church:

Ranworth Church website

Simon Knott's Norfolk Churches - Ranworth

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