How were medieval brass chandeliers arranged in churches?

In the later Middle Ages, brass chandeliers were primarily produced for use in churches. These fixtures were often designed with multiple tiers; for example, a 15th-century 12-light chandelier in the Berkeley Chapel at Bristol Cathedral is arranged in two tiers.12

To facilitate maintenance, such as snuffing the candles, these chandeliers were suspended by two or more chains attached to a rope that passed over a pulley, allowing the entire fitting to be lowered as needed. Many of these brass pieces were surmounted by figures of the Virgin Mary, an angel, or a saint. More elaborate examples, often depicted in 15th-century Flemish paintings, were further decorated with Gothic tracery and crocketing.2

In addition to these chandeliers, churches sometimes utilized a "candlebeam"—a structure composed of two or three crossed beams of carved and gilded wood fitted with sockets and drip pans—which served as an alternative for holding multiple lights.2