Parhamnr. Pulbororugh

Lewis' Dictionary of 1848 reports "an ancient leaden font in good preservation" in the church of St. Peter, Parham. Hussey (1852) writes: "Of this church 'the font is entirely of lead.' Cartwright's Dallaway). On the font are the arms of Andrew Peverell, M.P. for the county A.D. 1351". Lower (1870) concurs with the identification, and is quoted in Andre (1882), the latter suggesting that Peverell may have been the donor of the font. Listed in Romilly Allen (1888) as one of several "later fonts with inscriptions of a religious nature". Described and illustrated in Lethaby (1893) [after Andre [cf. supra]], "an extremely good example of how a fine design may be made of simplest elements". Described in Cox & Harvey (1907) as a lead font of the middle of the 14th century, the Decorated period, having an inscription with the initials of Jesus of Nazaret [cf. Inscription area]. Bond (1908) describes the font as being of lead and dated ca. 1351; he also reports a inscription repeated twelve times on its sides. Tyrrel-Green (1928) describes the inscription "repeated horizontally and vertically", and "contained in a heart-shaped shield, an heraldic charge gyronny within a bordure". Harrison (1920) compares it to the fonts at Edburton and Pyecombe. Described in Betjeman (1958) as a "rare leaden font, 14th century, with Lombardic lettering". Described in Whiteman (1994): "The rare lead font, one of three in Sussex, dates from the mid 14th century. The small circular bowl has the inscription "IHC Nazar" repeated horizontally and vertically in Lombardic lettering, a unique decoration. Also on the bowl are the arms of Andrew Peverell, Knight, 1351".