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Latterly in England and Wales the Rood tended to rise above a narrow loft (called the "rood loft"), which could occasionally be substantial enough to be used as a singing gallery (and might even contain an altar); but whose main purpose was to hold candles to light the rood itself. [5]
Rood screens are the Western equivalent of the Byzantine templon beam, which developed into the Eastern Orthodox iconostasis. Some rood screens incorporate a rood loft, a narrow gallery or just flat walkway which could be used to clean or decorate the rood or cover it up in Lent, or in larger examples
The remains of the rood screen in front of the more recent lectern date from the 14th century, and would have separated the nave from the chancel. The church once had a rood loft and gallery, and the remains of these can be seen in on the nave walls, and from the beam at the back of the church. The gallery was demolished in the 19th century.
Ranworth's rood screen survived the iconoclasm of the English Reformation. It is relatively well-preserved, but the loft parapet above the screen has not survived. Drawings of it were made in 1839 by Harriet Gunn, and it was described in detail in the 1870s. The panels at Ranworth were restored by Pauline Plummer during the 1960s and 1970s.
The interior contains "perhaps the most complete rood arrangement remaining in any church in England and Wales". [5] The rood screen, loft and tympanum are all in situ. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales considers that the screen is "most remarkable" and "probably unique in the British Isles".
The triumphal arch behind where there Rood Loft once stood is decorated with angels encircling the missing Great Rood and monograms of the Most Holy Name. These paintings were all restored in the early 1960s by Eve Baker. The north aisle is home to a once very complete set depicting the life of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. Discovered earlier ...
Restored in 1870, it still boasts many old features, the most important of which is the early 16th century rood-screen, made of carved oak which before the restoration was used as a men's gallery with rood loft and circular stairs.
Recently, the fine carved Medieval rood screen from the old church at Newtown, that had been moved to St David's Church, was moved again to Llanllwchaiarn. Further restoration work, which included the eastern extension of the chancel and vestry and the insertion of the bench seating, was completed by R.J.Withers in 1865 at a cost of £460.