Naas nr. Kildare / Nás na Ríogh

An article by the Ven. Archdeacon de Burgh in the Vol 1, No. 1, 1892 issue of the County Kildare Archaeological Society journal [http://www.kildarearchsoc.ie/vol-1-no-1-1892-st-davids-church-naas/] [accessed 28 September 2024] notes: "the ancient font, the basin or upper portion of which, Mr. Drew considers, held. its place in an older edifice than the present church. He ascribes it to the eleventh century. When my uncle first came here lie found it lying out in the churchyard. He brought it into the church, where for many years it rested on props of turned wood. It has been judiciously restored, under the auspices of Mr. Drew, by T. J. de Burgh, Esq., of Oldtown." Described and illustrated in Pike (1989) as a baptismal font still in use that "might also rank as the Cushion Capital type. It is square with cylindrical bowl and is made of limestone. An inscription on the plinth reads 'This ancient font ascribed to XIIth Century was restored by Thomas John de Burgh Anno Salutis 1880'. The font is decorated on all four sides with a flowing leaf and fleur-de-lis design, which suggests a date in the first half of the thirteenth century. The font is tripartite with four pods and central pedestal." The plinth is made of two square steps. Pike suggests an early 13th century dating based on ornamentation. Pike (ibid.) further informs that the west tower of this church, though much altered, dates back to the original medieval church founded by the Augustinians. The entry for this church in Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_David's_Church,_Naas] [accessed 28 September 2024] notes: "The baptismal font is believed to be very old, predating the Norman church" but gives no source [...] The Baptismal font dates to the 11th century and is a fine example of its period, predating the present church. Its black marble is decorated with leaf shaped ornaments representing God's creative power and Christ's in-dwelling in our lives through baptism. This font may be regarded as an important relic of the Celtic Christian Church. It was found abandoned in the church grounds around 1860 by Archdeacon De Burgh, who brought it into the church, where it rested on props of turned wood for many years before restoration by Thomas Drew in 1878. This font is still used regularly today for baptisms and is a visual reminder of our Celtic heritage and history." The same entry (ibid.) further notes a baptismal font in the crypt: "The granite Baptismal Font preserved in the crypt is from early Christian times and would have been in use until the 11th century." The entry for this church by Paddy Behan in the Kildare Local History site [https://kildarelocalhistory.ie/naas/a-short-history-of-naas/st-davids-church-naas/] [accessed 28 September 2024] notes: "The Baptismal Font is a relic of the early Irish Christian Church and most probably was in use in the pre-Norman church of Saint Corban." The entry compiled by Gearóid Conroy in the Historic Environment Viewer [https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CKD019-030026-] [accessed 28 September 2024] cites Bradley et al. (1986) as source: "Description: According to Bradley et al. (1986 vol. 4, 362-3), a late-13/early-14th century, square font (dims. L 0.74m; Wth 0.72m; H 0.5m) of black fossiliferous limestone, with a circular, straight-sided basin (diam. 0.2m) with a plugged central drain-hole, stands on a modern, five-legged pedestal at the W end of St. David's Church (KD019-030020-). The font is decorated in false relief with different sprays of foliage." An article by Paddy Behan of the Naas Local History Group [http://www.naastown.com/history.asp] [accessed 18 September 2024] notes: "The Baptismal Fobt is a relic of the earli Irish Christian Church and most probably was in use in the pre-Norman church of Saint Corban".