Reynella / Old Rathconnell

INFORMATION

Font ID: 09255REY
Object Type: Baptismal Font1
Font Century and Period/Style: 12th - 16th century, Medieval
Church / Chapel Name: Parish Church of St. John the Baptist (C. of I.), Reynella
Font Location in Church: Reported ca. 1968 on the ground outside the church
Church Patron Saint(s): St. John the Baptist
Previous Font Location(s): originally from the church at Turin/Old Rathconnell
Site Location: Westmeath / Iarmhí, Leinster, Republic of Ireland, Europe
Directions to Site: Reynella is located off the N52 (Mullingar-Delvin) about a mile past Turin (Old Rathconnell) [Tevrin?]
Additional Comments: recycled font / abandoned font: moved from its original church at Turin to Reynella, only to find out that it would not fit through the church door; left abandoned in the church grounds -- MUST USE (cf. FontNotes for details]
Font Notes:
Listed in Cogan (1992 c1862, vol. II: 489). Described in Roe (1968: 126) as a medieval stone baptismal basin, octagonal with chamfered underbowl, a round basin well with central drain, that , "according to local tradition [...] belonged to Turin (Old Rathconnell) and when, 70 years ago [i.e., ca. 1898?], it was decided to bring it here [i.e., Reynella] it was loaded on a cart, driven by an ass and a jennet but on arrival at Reynella it was discovered that it would not go in through the door [of the church] and so was left on the ground where it still is [ca. 1968]". Roe (ibid.) further notes that "Dr. Moore informs me that in the churchyard at Old Rathconnell is a large quadrangular slab with a central perforation which she considers to be the base belonging to this vessel." [NB: based on Roe's measurements [cf. Measurements section below] the pedestal base must be in the shape of a truncated pyramid]

COORDINATES

UTM: 29U 620715 5937676
Latitude & Longitude (Decimal): 53.574034, -7.176884
Latitude & Longitude (DMS): 53° 34′ 26.52″ N, 7° 10′ 36.78″ W

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone
Number of Pieces: two?
Font Shape: octagonal, mounted
Basin Interior Shape: round
Basin Exterior Shape: octagonal
Drainage System: centre hole in basin & base
Drainage Notes: [the diameter of the drain hole in the base at Turin is 12.5 cm, a/p Roe (1968: 126)]
Rim Thickness: 8.5 cm
Diameter (inside rim): 51 cm
Diameter (includes rim): 68 cm [calculated]
Basin Depth: 19 cm
Height of Basin Side: 21 cm
Height of Base: 48.2 cm*
Basin Upper Panel Dimensions: 21 cm (heigh) x 28 cm (wide)
Basin Lower Panel Dimensions: 22.5 cm (high) x 28 tapering to 19 cm (wide)
Square Base Dimensions: 43.2 cm* (width at top) -- 76 cm* (width at bottom)
Notes on Measurements: Roe (1968: 126) *[measurements for the base are for the block found in Turin/Old Rathconnell]

REFERENCES

  • Cogan, Anthony, The Diocese of Meath: Ancient and Modern, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin: Four Courts Press, 1992 (c1862), vol. II: 489
  • Roe, Helen M., Medieval Fonts of Meath, Longford, Ireland: Meath Archaeological and Historical Society, 1968, p. 126