Heighington

INFORMATION

Font ID: 02050HEI
Object Type: Baptismal Font1
Font Century and Period/Style: 15th century, Perpendicular
Church / Chapel Name: Church of St. Michael and All Angels
Font Location in Church: Inside the church; moved from under the tower farther east into the nave
Church Patron Saint(s): St. Michael & All Angels
Site Location: Durham, North East, England, United Kingdom
Directions to Site: Located near the junction A6072-B6448, 4 km SW of Newton Aycliffe, 10 km NNW of Darlington
Additional Comments: moved font: "For years ringing at Heighington has had the added challenge of ringing around the font in the middle of the rope circle. A revolution has happened and the whole of back of the church has been reordered, with the font moving to into the body of the church and the relocation of various stone monuments. We are no longer in danger of scraping our knuckles on the stonework while we ring! As we were unable to practice for a few weeks whilst the work was done we took the opportunity to have a clean up - shifting at least 20 buckets of 'muck' from under the bellframe. We also cleaned out under the grating where the heating pipes run in the ringing chamber and found a wedding ring, dating from 1942. Sadly we failed to find a watch, reported to have fallen down the font plughole! [www.aqyp22.dsl.pipex.com/July2002.htm]
Font Notes:
In "New look for Heighington", an article in The D&N Times, an occasional newsletter of the Durham & Newcastle Diocesan Association of Church Bellringers, dated July 2002 [www.aqyp22.dsl.pipex.com/July2002.htm] reports the move of the baptismal font from its former location under the tower -hence the bellringers' interest- to the nave of the church

COORDINATES

UTM: 30U 589411 6050705
Latitude & Longitude (Decimal): 54.5959, -1.6161
Latitude & Longitude (DMS): 54° 35′ 45.24″ N, 1° 36′ 57.96″ W

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone, type unknown

REFERENCES

  • Cox, John Charles, English Church Furniture, New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., 1907, p. 198