Frettenham / Fretham / Fretenham

There is an entry for Frettenham [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [http://domesdaymap.co.uk/place/TG2418/frettenham/] [accessed 10 April 2014], but it mentions neither church nor cleric in it. There is only a tangential mention of the church here in the Frettenham entry in Blomefield (1805-1810), and it is in relation to a fine for the conveyance of the advowson of the church in 1268, though the church must have existed prior to that date, perhaps closer to the end of the century, which is probably the date of the font. Blomefield's entry (ibid.) for 'Maideston', however, has: "The Church of Fretenham is a rectory, dedicated to St. Swithin" [NB: the hamlet of Maidestone, a 'berwit' of Frettenham, rates an entry in the Domesdat survey as 'Maidestuna', but there is no indication there or in Bloemfield (ibid.) to a church or cleric in it]. The present font is listed in Cox & Harvey (1907) as a baptismal font of the Norman period. Listed in Leach (1975) as a font made of Purbeck marble; "supports renewed". Pevsner & Wilson (1997), however: "Octagonal, C13, of Purbeck marble, with the usual two shallow arches on each side. Base and stem not original." Noted and illustrated in Knott (2009). The wooden font cover is octagonal and flat, with metal decoration and ring handle; appears modern.