Shurdington

Noted in Verey & Brooks (1999-2002): "Font. C14th octagonal bowl with quatrefoils, and sprays of foliage on the chamfer. The pedestal is divided into two tiers of eight attached circular shafts placed around a central shaft; the lower part is probably C13th". The Parish website [http://www.shurdington.org/stpaul.htm] [accessed 9 December 2009] notes: "There has been a church at Shurdington for at least 800 years, for that is the age of the little Norman north doorway. It must have been re-used and moved to its present position, in the l4th Century, when the church was largely re-built. The only other features to be retained were the Chancel arch and the font, both of which date from the 11th Century." The Church of England site [http://www.achurchnearyou.com/shurdington-st-paul/] [accessed 9 December 2009] describes it as "a rare 13th century font". Octagonal mounted baptismal font; the basin is octagonal with vertical sides; each side is ornamented with a large quatrefoil motif deeply carved; the pedestal base consists of three volumes: the upper two are cylindrical and ornamented with [eight?] attached colonnettes; these two upper volumes are separated by a l moulding; another moulding separates them from the lower volume of the base; the latter is octagonal. The font has an octagonal pyramidal cover with a decorated [floral?] finial. [NB: information received -via John Wilkes- from a local source who visually checked the font: "there is no evidence of a lockable lid ever being on it". It is possible that this composite font may have been put together in the 19th century, and may include medieval as well as Victorian components"].