Melverley / Melevrlei

The Proceedings of the Central Committee of the British Archaeological Association for April 24, published in The Archaeological Journal (June 1844: 161) record a presentation by Mr. Dukes who presented "a sketch of the remaining portion of an octagonal font, bearing an inscription in Greek reading forwards and backwards the same, 'ΝΙΨΟΝ ΑΝΟΜΗΜΑ ΜΗ ΜΟΝΑΝ ΟΨΙΝ"'. This fragment, it appears, was accidentally rescued from destruction by a gentleman passing by the church of Kinnerley in Shropshire, at the moment when some workmen were breaking the font to pieces por the purpose of repairing the church-yard wall; but its preservation was accomplished by an offer of money, when the men permitted it to be removed to a place of safety." The 'miscellaneous notices' in Archaeologia cambrensis (issue no. 32, October 1877: 320) reports on the impending renovations in this church, and cites from 'History of the Diocese of St. Asaph' which mentions an octagonal font in this church. The Salopian Shreds and Patches (issue of 12 June 1878: 54) reports the re-opening of this church after restoration, and notes: "the simple font of probably earlier date than the church is preserved". Described in Bond (1908) as one of several baptismal fonts on which the said Greek palindrome. Ditto Cox & Harvey (1907). A baptismal font of the Anglo-Saxon period is reported in this church in www.indigogroup.co.uk/edge/confluen.htm]. [NB: the church is said to date from the 15th century, after the earlier building was burned down by Owain Glyndŵr [aka Owen Glendower], the 14th-15th century Welsh rebel]. [NB: if the 'old' font is the same that bears the Greek palindrome, it is unlikely to deserve Anglo-Saxon claims of age]