Shorne / Schornes / Scorene / Sores

Noted in Gough (1792) as one of several fonts decorated with scenes of the Seven Sacraments [cf. infra]. Noted in Hasted (1797): "The font is very curious and antient, of Bethersden marble, it is octangular, the eight compartments round the bason being filled with sculptures of scriptural history. It is very similar to that in Southfleet church, and therefore probably of the same age [...] There are plates and descriptions of both in the Custumale Rossense." Described and illustrated in the September 1836 issue of The Gentleman's Magazine (264-265), with reference to a "very inadequately delineated [drawing], fifity years ago, in Thorpe's Custumale Roffense" [1788 ed.?]. The unsigned entry states that the accompanying plate is "by the able pencil of Mr. Hollis, jun." and dates the font to the "later period of Pointed architecture". It describes the seven carved sides of the basin "in the following order: 1. the sacred name of Jesus, in its customary abbreviated form, placed on a shield within a quatrefoil; 2. St. Michael weighing a soul, an evil spirit being unable to pull down the balance; 3. St. John baptizing Christ, the Holy Spirit descending in the form of a dove, directed by a hand from the clouds; 4. the sacramental chalice and wafer, the real presence being manifested by a small human figure with a radated head; this panel of the font is that opposite the altar; 5. the Resurrection; 6. St. Peter, to whom the church is dedicated, represented in pontifical robes and pall, holding a church in his right hand and a great key in his left, his head surrounded by a nimbus; 8. the Holy Lamb, the symbol of the Baptist; and made to exhibit the cross three times,-- in the staff, the nimbus round its head; and the position of one of his fore legs." The article also points out the existence of "another font of the same pattern, with some slight variations in the sculptures, in the church of Southfleet, a few miles distant." The article refers to Thorpe's illustration of the Southfleet font [cf. supra] to point out the differences: St. Nicholas instead of St. Peter, St. Michael has a cross on his forehead, the Baptist has a dialogue "label proceeding from his mouth, inscribed 'Ecce Agnus Dei'", and the Lamb "is entirely surrounded with rays of glory. It also describes the material of the Southfleet font as "hard grey marble",and, in the case of the Shorne font, "we presume is formed of the same material". Described in Glynne (1877): "The font is a very fine one of Rectilinear character, of octagonal form, each face presenting a different piece of sculpture, among which are figures of (i) St Peter; (ii) Our Lord rising from the Tomb; (iii) Our Lord receiving Baptism; (iv) the Holy Lamb; (v) a shield inscribed with Jhu; (vi) an Angel with a balance; and (vii) the Sacramental cup. The shaft has also fine panelling." Listed in Cox & Harvey (1907) as a Seven Sacrament baptismal font of the Perpendicular period [NB: C&H do not include this font in the listing of the Seven Sacrament fonts on pp.168-169; nor is it even mentioned in Nichol's (1994) detailed study of this group of fonts, as it is not a Seven-Sacrament font]. Described in Bond (1908) simply as a smallish baptismal font "quite unsuitable for the baptism of adults". Perry (1912) identifies St. Michael with his scales on one of the sides. An archival photograph of ca. 1891-1912 in the Eastman Collection [Cat.# 6/88 KR]; there is no cover on the font in the photograph, but the lead lining of the basin well can be discerned [source: Catherine Ward -- Strip 14: www.eastman.org/ar/strip14]. Noted in Newman (1980): "Font. Per[endicular]. Seven of the eight faces of the bowl are carved. Working clockwise from the E the subjects are: Chalice with a rayed host, Baptism of Christ, St Michael weighing souls, IHS on a shield, blank, Lamb and Flag, St Peter as a bishop holding a church, the Resurrection. By East Anglian standards not especially impressive, but in Kent only Southfleet can compare with it -- the comparison is a close one."