London No. 11 / Walbrook / Wallbrook

Noted in Allen (1839?): "The font is situated in a pew near the west entrance; it is octagonal, embellished with cherubim and festoons of drapery, and is supported on a neat balluster. The cover is handsomely sculptured in oak, with eight figures finely carved." Described and illustrated in Bond (1908) as one of several "examples of the Renaissance fonts, several of them of chalice type, [that] remain in several city churches", "a marvelous series of classical fonts still left in the churches built by Wren and his successors". Bond (ibid.) simply identifies the font cover as Jacobean, but Blatch (1995) describes it as "an exceptionally beautiful octagoganl font-cover, each panel decorated in high relief with garlands above and small figures on top (Christ and 3 Christian plus 4 Classical virtues)." The wide upper rim has angled sides ornamented with cherubs and a textile motif that passes through rings all around; the underbowl has a ribbed motif imitating a shell. The base is an octagonal baluster pedestal, rounded at the bottom where is covered in large-leaf ornamentation; the lower base widens with several mouldings and there is a plain octagonal plinth. The cover rests on the upper rim and rises with the help of a pulley system; the main body is also octagonal with vertical sides [cf. supra for motifs] and the small statuettes stand at each angle of the upper octagonal level of the cover. Noted in Our Past History site [http://ourpasthistory.com/london/st_stephen_wallbrook.htm] [accessed 13 December 2006]: "The stone font dates from 1679 and was carved by Thomas Strong, Wren's master mason -- its wooden cover is decorated with representations of Christ, Faith, Hope and Charity as well as the cardinal virtues of Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance."