A Treatise on Chancel Screens and Rood Loftstheir Antiquity, Use, and Symbolic Signification

A scholarly work focused on ecclesiastical architecture, probably written in the mid-19th century. The book examines the historical significance, design, and function of chancel screens and rood lofts in churches, emphasizing their importance in maintaining tradition and reverence in worship settings. The opening of the treatise establishes the importance of the subject, arguing against modern innovations that detract from the sacredness of church spaces. Pugin discusses the significance of screens in Ecclesiastical architecture, tracing their historical presence back to early Christian practices and emphasizing their role in separating the sanctified areas of worship from the congregation. He critiques contemporary practices that obscure the traditional roles of these architectural features, which he believes are vital for preserving the solemnity of the Mass and the reverence due to the altar and choir, recalling the historical practices of earlier centuries to bolster his arguments.