Page 41 - Historic Churches 2013
Basic HTML Version
BCD Special Report on
Historic Churches
20th annual edition
41
CATHEDRAL
C O M M U N I C A T I O N S
screens still to be surmounted by its original rood loft, the furnishings
are missing several key features – the most visually arresting of which is
an original colour scheme dominated by reds, greens, blues and gold.
The loss of original colour from Llananno’s screenwork (to
say nothing of other surfaces in medieval churches) places a great
burden on the imagination of the visitor. Although colour has, on
occasion, been re-applied elsewhere (for example, to part of the
screen at Usk in Monmouthshire) this was not done at Llananno.
Instead, the onlooker must imagine away the uniform ‘wooden-ness’
of the fittings and see instead the encrusted surfaces bright with
colour and gilding. This is no easy task, but one that is infinitely
preferable to standing in the hollow casket of a church stripped
bare of such riches. Were it not for David Walker’s intervention,
the imagination would have to work a great deal harder.
RICHARD WHEELER
combines work as a conservation officer with
professional photography and writing. He is the author of
The Medieval
Church Screens of the Southern Marches
(Logaston Press, 2006) and
Oxfordshire’s Best Churches
(Fircone Books, July 2013).
Detail of tracery heads and soffit panels at Llananno (top), Llanwnnog (middle)
and Newtown (bottom, retaining old colour)
ByAppointment to
HerMajesty theQueen
Decorators andGilders
CloughHarris Ltd.
CLOUGH HARRIS LIMITED
DECOR ATORS, GILDERS & RESTORERS
Mumford House, Church Hill, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent TN23 3EG
Tel: 01233645555 Fax: 01233645556
E-mail:
CONSERVATORS & RESTORERS
‘The churches of Oxfordshire brought gloriously to life
… a masterful survey.’ – SIMON JENKINS
Oxfordshire’s
Best Churches
By Richard Wheeler, with a foreword by Matthew Saunders
280 pages, 340 colour photographs, numerous plans and line-drawings
Hardback, £25
Publication July 2013
To order:
Offer price £20 plus £2.50 P&P (valid to end July 2013)
