The rood screen was the visual focus of the medieval parish church,
dividing the nave from the chancel. Most were built of wood and were
adorned with intricate carved decoration painted in bright colors, often
with images of saints. Defaced and often dismantled during the
Reformation in the mid-sixteenth century, most surviving screens have
been restored to their former glory since the nineteenth century and are
now among the most prized treasures of our parish churches. This fully
illustrated book explains the symbolic and practical significance of
rood screens and describes the ways in which they were constructed and
decorated. There is also an extensive list of churches in England and
Wales where screens can be found.