The splendid screen and rood loft that once decorated this most glorious
church is figured in Dom Pomeraye's history of this famous abbey.
It consisted of three divisions of double arches, supported by clusters
of pinnacles and niches; the two centre ones were carried up higher than
the others, and were terminated by two images, of St. John and the
Blessed Virgin; a crocketed arch, enriched with tracery cusps, was
carried up between these pinnacles, and supported the great crucifix;
under this arch was an image of our Lady of Pity. The choir gates were
of pierced-work in brass, and on either side two altars, surmounted by
many images of saints in tabernacles. The loft was ascended by two
spiral staircases, of most ingenious construction, and enriched with
tracery, panels, and sculpture. Over the engraving of this screen is the
following significant inscription, in French:
"Jubé of the church of S. Ouen: Erected in the year of our Lord 1462, by
the Cardinal D'Estouteville; ruined by the heretics in 1562; and
restored in 1656, by Dom Guillaume Cotterel, grand prior of the abbey."
This screen was finally demolished by the infidel revolutionists of
1790, who turned the church into a smith's workshop, and who found that
the screen impeded the _progress of their waggons through the choir_!
The following notice of the screen occurs in the text:
"It was through the liberality of Cardinal D'Estouteville that the jubé
was erected, which is one of the most beautiful and delicately-worked
screens in existence. It was universally admired, and would still
command the same admiration, had it not so severely suffered from the
fury of the heretics. It is so skilfully placed, that neither the
appearance of the transept or the choir are the least injured. It was
formerly covered with admirable images and carvings, but these miserable
sectaries, who could not endure the sight of this fine work, which,
although almost new, was older than their false religion, attacked it
with their accustomed fury, and completely defaced the images of holy
personages with which it was covered, together with its exquisite
details and ornaments. At the same time the Calvinists pulled down and
carried off all the lateral absidal screens of the choir, which were of
solid brass, most curiously wrought."—See Histoire de l'Abbaye Royale de
S. Ouen, de Rouen, par un religieux Bénédictin de la Congrégation de S.
Maur: Rouen, 1662; pp. 192 and 198.[14]