The ROOF has hammer beams alternating with arch braces. On the wall posts we see large figures. Near the centre there is Christ with his fingers raised in blessing with St. Peter next to him. Opposite is the Virgin Mary with St. John holding the chalice, they are surrounded by the other apostles and bishops. Large angels on the hammer beams lean outwards over the pews, whilst two lines of angels have wings outstretched along the wall plates. Stone corbels have more decorative heads. An abundance of medieval paint survives. The roof was thoroughly restored in 1982.

Each of the larger angels and the smaller ones in the cornice is carrying a different emblem, eg: incense boats, shields, mitres, castles, chalices, etc., and have outstretched wings of reds, blues and yellows (yellow showing signs that it was once gilt ).

On either side of each intermediate principal, and attached to the ribs, are carvings of birds and animals, sixteen in all. A rabbit is one and one represents a dog with a litter of puppies.

There are eighteen full-length figures beneath the principals between the clerestory windows, they are 4ft 6ins in length and most are brilliantly coloured, There is a canopy over each figure, the underside of which is painted sometimes white and sometimes blue with lead stars.

 

List of  Roof Carvings

A.    A Doctor of Divinity - with no colour

B.    A Bishop - with practically no traces of colour

        except in the canopy.

C.    St James the Less - represented with long dark

         brown beard; deep brown red surcoat lined with

         white; blue undergarment with gold flowers. In his

        right hand is a fuller's club, and a book is in his left

        hand. Canopy blue.

D.    St Matthias - represented with long grizzled

        beard; grey surcoat lined with salmon pink; deep

        blue undergarment ornamented with gold floral

       pattern. In his right hand is an axe or halberd and in

       his left, a book. Canopy blue.

E.    St Matthew or St Paul - represented with long

       grizzled beard, evidently a man of some years with

       deep furrows running across his forehead; dark red

       surcoat lined with white; deep blue undergarment.

       He is leaning on a sword and carries a book in his

       left hand. (it has been suggested this figure

       represents St Paul, who would thus pair off with St

       Peter on the opposite side, in the same way that St

       John pairs off with St James.)

F.    The Virgin Mary - represented with fair hair and

       crowned; clothed in blue cloak with magenta

       undergarment; both hands raised in the act of

       adoration (perhaps directed towards her Son, our

       Lord, who is placed opposite). Canopy shows signs

       of white, red and gold.

G.    St John - represented as a young man, very fair

        and effeminate looking; deep red surcoat lined with

        white; dark blue undergarment. Holding a blue

        chalice in his left hand, with his right raised with

        two fingers pointing towards the chalice. Brilliant

        blue canopy.

H.    St Jude - represented with a short beard; grey blue

        cloak lined with white; magenta undergarment.

        Carrying a boat across both hands. Canopy shows

        sign of red paint.

I.    St Andrew - represented as a middle-aged man

       with short black beard; clothed in cerise surcoat or

       cloak; grass green undergarment. A cross saltire is

        in his right hand and a book in his left.

       White canopy.

 

J.    A Doctor of Divinity

K.    A Bishop - with little or no colour

L.    St Thomas - represented with dark brown  beard;  

       deep red surcoat lined with salmon pink and blue

       undergarment, both decorated with gold floral pattern.

       In his right hand is a spear, and in his left, a book.

M.    St Philip - represented with very bronzed

       complexion; clothed in magenta surcoat and deep

       blue undergarment, both decorated with gold flowers.

       In his right hand he carries a blue basket containing

       loaves and a book in his left.

N.    St Peter - represented as a fair young man with short

       beard. His dress is very ornate, with gold floral work,

       red cloak lined with white, and dark blue under

       garment. In his right hand he holds a key, and in his

       left, a book. White canopy.

O.    Our Lord - represented as very fair; clothed in a long

       flowing deep purple-brown garment;  with light red

       cuffs. In his left hand he carries a blue orb with a

       cross on top and his right hand is raised in the act of

       blessing.

P.    St James the great - represented wearing the

       flapped hat and cloak of a pilgrim, with wallet and

       staff, being the first of the Apostles to leave and fulfil

       his mission of evangelisation. He appears to be a

       young man, very fair, and bearing a likeness to our

       Lord, his kinsman. His cloak is red lined with white

       and his undergarment blue.

Q.    St Bartholomew - represented with short beard;

        blue-grey surcoat lined with white and magenta

        undergarment. In his right hand is a butcher's flaying

        knife and his left is concealed under his cloak.

R.    St Simon - represented with short black beard; red

        cloak lined with white and blue undergarment. In his

        left hand is clasped a fish, in his right, a book. This

        is the only figure at all damaged, the end of his nose

        broken off.).

 

 

Details from Roof

 
 

 

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