Churches - Bevendean History Project
St Mary Magdalen Church - Rood Screen
The rood screen in the church, mounted on one of the six great beams of
the former barn, comprises a wooden depiction of Christ, St. Mary and
St. John. It was designed by the distinguished Brighton artist Mr
Charles Knight and was carved by Mr Joseph Cribb, of Ditchling.
Charles Knight was an important figure in Brighton School of Art over many decades. He attended Brighton School of Art (1919-23) where he was particularly influenced by painter Louis Ginnett and architect John Denman.
The word rood is derived from the Saxon word rood or rode, meaning "cross". The rood screen is so called because it was surmounted by the Rood itself, a large figure of the crucified Christ.
The Rood Screen in St Mary Magdalen Church at Coldean.
In older and larger churches there is often an open wooden lattice under the figure of Christ on the cross separating the nave from the choir stalls.
Joseph Cribb was born on 16 January 1892 in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.
He was apprenticed to Eric Gill from 1903 to 1913 at Ditchling, Sussex and continued to work with Gill until the start of World War One.
On his return from service, he became a founder member of the Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic, an association of Catholic artists and craft workers, and for many years was in charge of the stone mason's shop, taking over Gill's workshop on Ditchling Common after Gill left for Capel in 1924, establishing his own practice.
He carried out many commissions for John Denman's, Brighton architectural firm. Denman’s firm were the architect who designed the conversion of the barn at Coldean into a Church in 1955.
He married Mary A Weller between October and December 1917 at Brentford in Middlesex.
He died on 6 November 1967 and is buried in St. Margaret's Churchyard at Ditchling.
Mr Charles Knight was involved with the Brighton School of Art, as Acting Vice-Principal (1959) and Vice-Principal (1967), before retiring in 1967.
Charles Knight was an important figure in Brighton School of Art over many decades. He attended Brighton School of Art (1919-23) where he was particularly influenced by painter Louis Ginnett and architect John Denman.
The word rood is derived from the Saxon word rood or rode, meaning "cross". The rood screen is so called because it was surmounted by the Rood itself, a large figure of the crucified Christ.
The Rood Screen in St Mary Magdalen Church at Coldean.
In older and larger churches there is often an open wooden lattice under the figure of Christ on the cross separating the nave from the choir stalls.
Joseph Cribb was born on 16 January 1892 in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.
He was apprenticed to Eric Gill from 1903 to 1913 at Ditchling, Sussex and continued to work with Gill until the start of World War One.
On his return from service, he became a founder member of the Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic, an association of Catholic artists and craft workers, and for many years was in charge of the stone mason's shop, taking over Gill's workshop on Ditchling Common after Gill left for Capel in 1924, establishing his own practice.
Joseph Cribb at work in his studio in Ditchling.
He carried out many commissions for John Denman's, Brighton architectural firm. Denman’s firm were the architect who designed the conversion of the barn at Coldean into a Church in 1955.
He married Mary A Weller between October and December 1917 at Brentford in Middlesex.
He died on 6 November 1967 and is buried in St. Margaret's Churchyard at Ditchling.
Mr Charles Knight was involved with the Brighton School of Art, as Acting Vice-Principal (1959) and Vice-Principal (1967), before retiring in 1967.
