Sapcote / Sapcoate / Sapcot / Sapcotes / Sapecote / Scepecote / Scopecote

There are three entries for Sapcote [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [http://domesdaymap.co.uk/place/SP4893/sapcote/] [accessed 1 November 2014], neither of which mentions cleric or church in it. The font here is noted and illustrated in Upcott (1818). Described and illustrated in Simpson (1828): "We are very glad to seize the opportunity of giving a representation of this fine subject, before its destruction has been entirely effected by the various causes which are at present rapidly bringing it to decay. It [i.e., the baptismal font] was turned into the churchyard about thirty years ago [i.e., ca. 1798], and placed at the west end of the north aisle as a cistern for the rain water from the church, where it now stands, to the disgrace as well of those who originally placed it there, as of those who will suffer it to continue in that situation." Going by its style, Simpson (ibid.) dates it "about the middle of the Norman period". The round basin has sixteen shallow niches carved on its exterior; the niches have foliage ornamentation; the lower and upper part of the basin sides are chamfered and ornamented; the base is new. Illustrated by Orlando Jewitt in Paley (1844), who reports that the Sapcote font was "turned into the Churchyard" at the end of the 18th century "where it did duty as a water-butt for more than thirty years; it was afterwards removed into the Rectory garden, but the present Incumbent [i.e., ca. 1844] had had it carefully repaired, raised on a shaft, and once more appropriated to its former holy use. [...] Its date appears to be late Norman or Transition." Whitley (1853) notes the church "was erected, probably, towards the end of the XIII, or beginning of the XIV century", but was extensively altered in 1794; the first recorded rector, "Thomas", is dated in Whitley as "living in 1220". On the font, Whitley (ibid.) writes: "The ancient stone font in this Church has received some notice from writers on the various fonts in England. It partakes very much of the Norman character, and is circled by a peculiar description of foliage, and is altogether a curious specimen of its kind. The diameter of the basin at the top is 2ft. 7in.; and the height, including the shaft, and base, 3ft. 5 1/4in. At the time of the vast alterations in 1794, it was removed into the Church-yard, and placed under one of the spouts, for the purpose of catching the rain-water, an office which it certainly never was intended to fulfil. In its stead a modern one, and much inferior, of Mansfield stone, was erected, and continued to be used for several years. Meanwhile the old font seems to have been moved about, first from the Church-yard to the Rectory garden, and then from the Rectory garden to the belfry. However, in the year 1842, it was rescued from its place of concealment, sent up to London, and there restored, as far as possible, fixed upon a circular shaft, and replaced in the Church. Its restoration was a matter of considerable difficulty, as it had suffered much, not only from the inroads of time, but from its lengthened exposure and rough treatment, so that a large hole was actually made in its side." [NB: the hole in the side was likely made at the time when it was used to catch the water from the Rectory garden spout; i.e., a side drain]. A reference to this font is found in an unsigned contribution in the Leicestershire and Rutland Notes and Queries and Antiquarian [...], (vol. 1, 1889-1891: 297): "Sapcote. About the end of the last century this singular font was turned into the Church yard, where it did duty as a water-butt for more than thirty years; it was afterwards removed into the Rectory garden, but the late Rev. J. Bickersteth had it carefully repaired, raised on a shaft, and once more appropriated to its former holy use. We have great pleasure in giving an illustration of it, and hope that the example set by the late Rector of Sapcote may induce others to restore many beautiful subjects now lying neglected and desecrated. The bowl, which is the only original portion, is circular and cut into sixteen concave faces, enriched with a very peculiar kind of foliage, and the angles both above and below are chamfered and ornamented. Its date appears to be late Norman, or Transition. It stands in the centre of the nave at the west end, in a line with the north and south doors. The dimensions are: Height, 3 ft. 5 1/4 in. Diameter across top, 2 ft. 7 in. Diameter of interior, 1 ft. 11 1/2 in. Depth of bowl, 1 ft. 7 1/2 in. Depth of interior. 1 ft. 3 in." Described in Cox & Harvey (1907) as a noteworthy baptismal font of the Transitional period, with "a beautifully sculptured bowl of unusual design". Not listed in Bond. English Heritage [Listing NGR: SP4886493197] (1957) reports: "C11 font with moulded round base and stem and bowl with lobed leaf ornament." Noted in Pevsner (1984): "Font. Norman, circular, with coarse, big, many-lobed upright leaves and other plant shapes of uncommon design." The Historic Churches Preservation Trust notes it as "a Norman font." [source: the 'Recent grants' report of the Grants Committee meetings of 9 March 2004 and 22 June 2004 of the Historic Churches Preservation Trust, www.historicchurches.org.uk]. The Sapcote Village web site [www.sapcote.org.uk/history/church2.htm] dates the basin to the 11th century and adds: "The font has had a checquered history. In 1794 it was removed to the churchyard and was used to catch rainwater. The font has been replaced by one of "Mansfield stone". It is this font which is illustrated in J. Nichols' 'History of Leicestershire' under Sparkenhoe Hundred, published in 1810. The font was removed to the Rectory gardem and from there to the church tower. In 1842 it was sent to London to be restored. On its return it was set on a pedestal in the church in the main aisle opposite the south door, where it remained until it was transferred to its present position near the north door in 1886" [NB: the source notes that this information was extracted from Rev. H. Whitley's 'History of Sapcote' (1853) and from 'A history of the Parish Church of All Saints, Sapcote, Leicestershire' by the Rev. Douglas W. Tyldesley (1981), with additional research by Keith B. Hextall]