The Medieval Angels of Barton Turf

Рет қаралды 5,483

Жыл бұрын

#medievalhistory #medievalart #medievalarchitecture #churchcrawling #norfolk #norfolkchurches #eastanglia
I’m at Barton Turf in Norfolk, it is a chilly Winter day - but I am here to show you something that will really warm your heart, it gets me excited every time I lay eyes on it. It is one of the finest examples of late medieval art anywhere in Great Britain - if it were in an art gallery in a city, people would be travelling many miles to see it. Because it is in a church people ignore it.
The work of art I want to show you is this - it is the rood or chancel screen that marks the division between the nave where the people met to worship and the chancel where the sacrifice of the mass was offered. Norfolk has quite a lot of medieval painted screens - but this one is special, not only is it one of the finest examples of medieval English panel paintings but it is immaculately preserved - there is only minor damage by iconoclastic Protestants, who would often scrape saint’s faces away. The screen probably dates from the 1440s or 1450s, which was a high point in English art - nothing ugly was produced then. The iconography of the painted images on the screen is the Nine Orders of Angels.
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Пікірлер: 97

@allanbarton Жыл бұрын

I hope you like my latest video. Thanks to everyone for all your comments on my videos. I do read them all, but I have a bit of a backlog with answering them as I've been away filming videos and getting The Antiquary ready for publication - thanks to you all for your kindness and for your patience.

@sweptashore Жыл бұрын

What an absolute treasure! The architecture of the church itself is beautiful. It's simply miraculous that these masterpieces of medieval art have not only survived but are still glorious. Thank goodness that only some face-scratchers came 'round during The Reformation.

@stuartfisher8419 Жыл бұрын

I happily refer your audience to issue 7: February 2023 of The Antiquary magazine where amongst other delights, the Barton Turf screen is also featured. Many thanks Alan.

@stepps511 Жыл бұрын

What a charming building, and absolutely exquisite set of painted panels on this screen! It is miraculous that the panels remain intact and that the colors of the pigments seem to appear nearly as fresh as when they were applied. Certainly this is a national treasure and I would hope that it be considered so. Thank you, thank you very much, Allan. Your love and passion for these medieval buildings is a gift to us all.

@astiwine2354 Жыл бұрын

Your commentary adds so much to the understanding and enjoyment of the video. I greatly appreciate the effort you put in to these.

@TuckerSP2011 Жыл бұрын

Just beautiful. These angels are painted so wonderfully with such imagination and delicacy. I can't even imagine the upheaval that went on after the Reformation. It must have been truly terrifying to the average person.

@Wosiewose Жыл бұрын

Nearly 600 years later, this exquisite artwork is still inspiring and humbling to the soul.

@amymahers2957 Жыл бұрын

I love the visits to the churches! They each tell a story as does the pews, the baptismal fonts, the stain glass, the effigy’s. The angels are beautiful and the colors quite vibrant. Even the floors can be art. Thank you for taking us there.

@EllenCFarmGirl Жыл бұрын

A really lovely church, the rood screen is spectacular! Thank you so very much!❤

@hugolandheer7008 Жыл бұрын

Beautiful beautiful.... Thanks for sharing!

@388Caroline Жыл бұрын

I’m a Rood fanatic. Thanks for showing us this absolutely beautiful one, Allan 🙏

@robb2biago Жыл бұрын

That was beautiful, and what a glorious day to be out in the country filming such a historic building.

@elainethomson7146 16 күн бұрын

This screen is stunning, the best preserved that I've seen. I can't imagine how it came to be spared. A miracle that serves to remind us of how much we've been deprived of.

@allanbarton 15 күн бұрын

Glad you appreciated this!

@jilltagmorris Жыл бұрын

Wonderful as ALWAYS!

@nickimontie Жыл бұрын

If I could, I would travel the English countryside to see these churches. Thank you for taking us along!

@pixbychris3182 Жыл бұрын

Another excellent video. St Mary's in Kersey has a lovely set of paintings on the dado sadly the rest of the rood is missing.

@balesjo Жыл бұрын

A beautiful church with stunning artwork from the medieval period. Nice to see a church that managed to avoid the worst destruction by Protestants during the English Reformation and later. I do hope the church employees a good security system in the wake of modern day people that deface artworks for whatever reason.

@spicencens7725 Жыл бұрын

How spectacular! You guys are so lucky to have such ecclesiastical treasures! They are our history , but sadly the lessons taught are unknown to many. Pray you keep them intact!

@karensimon876 Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Your content is right up my alley.

@allanbarton Жыл бұрын

That's lovely, thank you.

@susanross1651 Жыл бұрын

They are beautiful paintings & so lucky to have survived the ravages of time.

@TarynHillWasHere Жыл бұрын

I've been tying to find tours of churches (and other buildings ) and this far exceeds any that I've watched so far. The historical commentary makes the video so much more interesting. Super smooth videography, the shaking that I've seen on other channels makes them unwatchable. Thank you for the enjoyable tour.

@allanbarton Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!

@ludovica8221 Жыл бұрын

Wow that was lovely.. the screen is amazing

@trishbresolin8212 Жыл бұрын

Wow. Very beautifully preserved indeed.

@allanbarton Жыл бұрын

It is astonishing how well preserved it is, there are lots of these screens in Norfolk, but this is among the best.

@annettewillis2797 Жыл бұрын

Truly extraordinary rood screen Allan! Brilliantly painted and it is extraordinary that it survived the reformation and the ravages of time to remain intact. What a beautiful church in Barton Turf! It is very interesting that Norfolk has so many churches of historical significance. Thanks as always for these glorious, informative rambles Allan.

@allanbarton Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it 😊. Norfolk is a hotbed of amazing rood screens in particular and spectacular churches in general!

@annettewillis2797 Жыл бұрын

@@allanbarton I’ve only been to Norfolk once for a week and enjoyed it very much. The churches were so interesting, along with the landscape and birds!

@gonefishing167 Жыл бұрын

Just beautiful, thank you 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏👵🇦🇺

@ChrisHunt4497 Жыл бұрын

What a shame that works of art are ignored because they are in a church. Thank you for showing it to us. The outside is really pretty too as is the birdsong. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

@carmenfoster6912 Жыл бұрын

Dr.Barton you are truly incredible one of a kind. I mean your content is so on-point , this information gives me chills! Well done Dr. You are truly amazing!

@nokomarie1963 Жыл бұрын

On the bucket list!

@dianetheisen8664 Жыл бұрын

This church is gorgeous ⛪️‼️.

@marthavanbeek-putters Жыл бұрын

Thank you for visiting this beautiful church! Such awesome paintings of the angels. Martha

@allanbarton Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!

@educanassa100 Жыл бұрын

I Love medieval art and history

@bessofhardwick9311 Жыл бұрын

This really did warm my heart. What beautiful images. I'll watch your other video on the angels. Thanks for making this.

@OdeInWessex Жыл бұрын

Those panels are exquisite and I never even knew they existed. I would love to know how they came to be preserved whilst mourning the loss of so much art due to the machinations of Henry VIII.

@miriamsargent3428 Жыл бұрын

Yes, I was wondering how they managed to survive through the reformation. Do you think that they may have been whitewashed over? They are really beautiful. Thank you for your very interesting channel.

@cs3742 Жыл бұрын

The presence of such beauty in this church may actually work to preserve them from the smoke, greasy fingers, etc. of careless visitors.

@mbvoelker8448 Жыл бұрын

Stunningly beautiful art. I still can't get my evangelical protestant, American mind around the purpose of putting a barrier between the people and the service, but it's a crying shame that so much art was lost to the extremes of the Reformation. And even as a person whose church is literally in a strip mall (and who could call the commissioning of fine art to decorate it a waste of money that could have been used for missions, outreach, teaching, etc.), I hope that these beautiful and historic buildings remain well-loved and well-cared-for into the future.

@penelopehammerton2907 Жыл бұрын

Thank you Alan, what a gem you have found for us. The condition of the Rood is staggering, Always enjoy your videos 🤗

@allanbarton Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it 😊

@meredith2803 Жыл бұрын

Incredible, definitely on the list ❤️. Thank you for bringing this fascinating gem to us, that otherwise might have gone amiss.

@oldhippy1947 Жыл бұрын

Alan, As an American who has recently discovered your channel, I'm thoroughly enjoying your videos. I've recently discovered I have ancestors from the London area and have widening my knowledge of Great Britain.

@allanbarton Жыл бұрын

Thanks Jerry - it is really fascinating following the trail of family history have you looked into yours deeply?

@oldhippy1947 Жыл бұрын

Really, just started digging into the UK part of my tree. I'm getting DNA matches for 3rd and 4th cousins in South West England and East Anglia and some DNA matches in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Along with a heavy German side of my tree from my Dad, I'm pretty much a mutt.

@lievenmoelants Жыл бұрын

delightfull indeed. and your narrative certainly helps to improve my knowledge of english.

@JFW5358 Жыл бұрын

Beautifully filmed. It is a magnificent screen, along with nearby Ranworth.

@UmvimvaniT Жыл бұрын

Lovely! And love watching all your church 'ones'.

@jack6964 Жыл бұрын

While the church and screen are an absolute treasure, the south chapel at least seems to be a messy storeroom! Quite a shame!

@allanbarton Жыл бұрын

Sadly yes, there is quite a lot of clutter in the church in general. It is so normal in churches these days.

@DenisPeel Жыл бұрын

Beautiful screen, done by a very talented artist, would these have been done by journeymen painters or by someone in the parish? I wonder about the experience of the average lowly parishioner at the reformation, was it that one week he/she attends Mass and the next week is told they are Protestant? What does he think of this ? Perhaps sometime you could give us some thoughts about this upheaval. Thanks for these great videos.

@nadiabrook7871 Жыл бұрын

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!! XXXX 💗👍❤

@laurag7295 Жыл бұрын

You are so right, those paintings are wonderful!

@StevenJeNova Жыл бұрын

Much appreciated!

@allanbarton Жыл бұрын

Thank you.

@marilynwoolford-chandler1161 Жыл бұрын

Lovely smooth camera work and a feast for the eyes. The contrast was quite tangible over a forty year ( two generations?) Period. How things can change!

@ffvvaacc Жыл бұрын

This was a really good lecture. Thank you!

@welshgal5533 Жыл бұрын

Thanks

@allanbarton Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much indeed.

@orlando1a1 Жыл бұрын

Thank you, Allan, for a wonderful video - the exquisite choir screen is worthy of being compared to the Wilton Diptych in the National Gallery.

@allanbarton Жыл бұрын

We have so many little-known priceless works of art in our parish churches! Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it.

@TerryC69 Жыл бұрын

Hi Allen! As you point out, the decline in quality between the two primary examples of artwork are rather pronounced. I do appreciate your presentations as they have shed light upon a dim corner of my understanding. Bless you.

@helza Жыл бұрын

That was amazing! It's hard to believe that those beautiful paintings have survived in such great condition. Then you for showing them to us

@rhiannonpoole6019 11 ай бұрын

Thank you for that all-too-short video, and for your thoughtful approach as always. I am interested in why Satan should have an extra face on his body, I've not come across that image anywhere else. So much to learn!

@carolinemarierafaellevanhu1740 Жыл бұрын

🙏❤️🙏

@EdMcF1 Жыл бұрын

I would recommend the Wenhaston Doom in Suffolk, and its remarkable rediscovery.

@allanbarton Жыл бұрын

I published an article about the Wenhaston Doom in the November edition of my magazine. It is such a fascinating object and so wonderful to be able to get up to to it at close quarters. www.antiquarystore.com/collections/the-antiquary-magazine/products/copy-of-the-antiquary-issue-4-november-2022-printed-copy-1

@deniseroe5891 Жыл бұрын

It is sad that works of art, some beautiful beyond comprehension are ignored because they are in a church. Most art from this period is Christian in nature. Beautiful church and treasures, so glad they survived the dissolution of the monasteries. My dream is to spend at least a year in England, just to see these amazing places.

@janeteholmes Жыл бұрын

Do we understand why the quality of the screen artwork declined so drastically during the first half of the fifteenth century? Was this just in England, or did it happen elsewhere too?

@WickedFelina Жыл бұрын

Is it possible, or have I not caught it as of yet, a video regarding the destruction of the art in Anglican churches in Britain? Thank you.

@neellor 8 ай бұрын

Found your site after getting results from my Ancestry

@thoughtfulhistorytoday7214 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this and all your videos. This church deserves a much more detailed video( not complaining, just a suggestion).

@davisd_ambly4067 Жыл бұрын

What magnificent painting - what glorious figures. And a lovely introduction to Barton Turf. Is the defaced priest St Thomas of Canterbury?

@allanbarton Жыл бұрын

The only two scraped Davis, Dominations and Seraphim. I think it is the papal tiara of Dominations that probably set them off. Thankfully they lost heart after scraping at those two.

@dragnflei Жыл бұрын

How has that exquisite screen managed to survive? And how is it maintained?

@Lisette777 Жыл бұрын

Just gorgeous. I wonder if some of the reformers actually appreciated art, and so spared the rood screen...also, I did wonder, does your surname originate from these parts? Just curious! :)

@matthewconway9152 Жыл бұрын

It looks to me like this church might still be in use for worship. Is this the case or is it more of a museum? -Matthew

@dianetheisen8664 Жыл бұрын

I wonder that, too.

@AulicExclusiva Жыл бұрын

Beautiful. How do you spell that word used for the bottom section of the screen?

@allanbarton Жыл бұрын

Dado.

@AulicExclusiva Жыл бұрын

@@allanbarton Oh, I see. It's the Italian & Spanish word for a die. Originally a cube-shaped pedestal. Later the lower part of an interior wall that is decorated differently from the upper part. As the Welshman said, if I evarrr.

@Mtlmshr Жыл бұрын

You said you loose subscriptions when you mention your at a church. In this case I would have stuck with just saying there are great art works in this fascinating old “Roman Era” building? I will watch either way only because I find it fascinating weather it’s a Church or not, just sayin?

@marilynwoolford-chandler1161 Жыл бұрын

I wonder how these works of piety and art escaped the barbarians?

@theoldar Жыл бұрын

Because it's in a church people ignore it? People travel to churches to look at art all the time. Maybe say "because it's in an unknown, out of the way church" and I'll agree!

@forthrightgambitia1032 4 ай бұрын

St Zita of Lucca was only formally canonised in 1696, so I presume her representation is a reflection of a popular cult rather than an officially approved saint?

@allanbarton 4 ай бұрын

Absolutely.

@yvobalcer Жыл бұрын

The church should be used again.

@allanbarton Жыл бұрын

It gives every impression of being in use.

@spicencens7725 Жыл бұрын

How spectacular! You guys are so lucky to have such ecclesiastical treasures! They are our history , but sadly the lessons taught are unknown to many. Pray you keep them intact!