Great Malvern No. 1 / Malferna / Malvern Magna / Malverne / Moche Malv'ne / Moche Malverne / Much Malvern

No entry for Great Malvern found in the Domesday Book. The Gentleman's Magazine (issue of December 1839: 636) notes: "A font of great antiquity remaining in the noble church of Malvern, but which had been disused for some years, has been completely repaired by Mr. Stephens, the sculptor, of Worcester; and under the sanction of the Rev. H. Card, D.D. the Vicar, it has been placed upon a suitable pedestal at the entrance of the middle aisle of the church, where it is intended that in future the rite of baptism shall be administered. This font, like all those which were in use amongst our ancestors, having been adapted for immersion, is of large dimensions (nine feet two inches in circumference, and thirteen inches in depth); the form is circular, without ornament of any kind, and an orifice remains in the centre for carrying off the water. If not of Saxon workmanship, it is doubtless of a period not later than the twelfth century. This sacred and interesting relic has been rescued from neglect, perhaps from destruction, at the suggestion of J.H. Markland, Esq., F.R.S. the late Director of the Society of Antiquaries, at whose expense it has been restored, and fixed in its present position. The following inscription is placed on the pedestal:-- QVOD DEVS BENE VORTAT / FONS HVIVS ECCLESIAE / PRORVTVS ANNORVM INIVRIA / RESTAURATVS. / A.S. CIDIDCCCXXXVIIII. / QVONIAM PLACVERVNT SERVIS TVIS / LAPIDES EIVS ET TERRAE EIVS / MISREBVNTVR. / PS cii." [NB: the inscription is actually on a plaque that is now [October 2014] secured to the side of tha basin -- it is possible that the plaque was on the pedestal base at the time of the GM's article]. Miller (1890) writes "Before the Conquest Malvern was a wilderness, thick with trees. Here came some monks from Worcester [...] the monastery was founded about 1083 [...] The Abbey Church of St. Mary was purchased by the people at the Reformation [...] The font is Norman, and well restored." The Victoria County History (Worcester, vol. 4, 1924) notes: "The church of ST. MARY AND ST. MICHAEL, formerly the conventual church of the Benedictine priory, [...] is all that now remains of the prior [...] By 1788 it had become so ruinous that it was not safe, and plans were suggested for its repair [...] it was partly restored in 1812 and again in 1816, 1834 and 1841 [...] The tower was restored in 1852. About 1861 a thorough restoration was carried [...] and minor restorations have been made subsequently. [...] The earliest parts of the structure are the nave arcades with the south aisle and the piers of the central tower, all dating from the late 11th or early 12th century. [...] The font has a circular bowl, probably of the 13th century, and modern stem. [...] The monastic buildings lay to the south of the church, but have been entirely demolished." Listed in Cox & Harvey (1907) as a baptismal font of the Norman period. Brooks & Pevsner (2007) note: "Plain round Norman bowl; stem and base 1839." [cf. Index entry for Newland (Worcs.) for the font from the old parish church of St. Thomas, Great Malvern, moved to Newland in 1541] [NB: the other churches in Malvern -All Saints', Christ Church, Holy Trinity's, St. Andrew's, St. Matthias', St. Peter's and The Ascension's have modern fonts]