Whitchurch nr. Newbury / Hwitancyrice / Whicchurch / Witcherche / Witcerce / Witcirce / Wittcerce

There is an entry for this Whitchurch [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [http://opendomesday.org/place/SU4648/whitchurch/] [accessed 23 August 2018]; it reports "1 church. 1.0 church lands" in it. The Victoria County History (Hampshire, vol. 4, 1911) notes: "The church was largely rebuilt in 1866, and the only parts left to tell its history are the western halves of the nave arcades and the tower. The three western bays on the south side of the nave date from about 1190 to 1200, and were probably part of an aisle added to an earlier building consisting of a nave and chancel with a western tower. [...] The font is a small octagonal one of late 15 th-century or early 16th-century date; its sides are panelled with quatrefoils inclosing square flowers, excepting the eastern, which has a large Tudor rose; the underside of the bowl is wave moulded; the stem has a neck mould at top and the base is modern." Described in the parish's site [www.allhallowswhitchurch.org.uk/History/AllHallows.aspx] [accessed 23 August 2018]: "On the left as you enter the church is the Baptistery. In the mid 1990s, the south west corner of our church was transformed into a carpeted area where families can congregate in comfort near to our Tudor font [...] The font is Tudor, as can be seen from the Tudor rose, which you will find on one of the panels on the side. If you lift the lid and look inside, you will see that it is lead-lined, and that the lead is pierced by two by two holes. These holes once housed two bolts which kept the cover firmly in position, to prevent people from taking baptismal water for superstitious purposes." The font consists of an octagonal basin the sides of which are decorated with large panels containing floral motifs; most of the floral motifs are inscribed in quatrefoil windows but at least one of the sides has a large Tudor rose; the chamfer of the underbowl is plain; the top of the octagonal stem of the base has a thin roll moulding, otherwise it is plain; graded lower base of two levels, plain and octagonal. Medium-height wooden cover of pyramidal shape, octagonal, practically plain except for a florid finial. The inner well of the basin is lead lined. The iron staples of the rim have been removed. This church houses an interesting artifact that may have originated in the early church here; it is described in the parish's site [www.allhallowswhitchurch.org.uk/History/AllHallows.aspx] [accessed 23 August 2018]: "The Saxon Stone. This stone was discovered embedded in the north wall when the Victorians were rebuilding the church in 1866-68. It is unique but reminiscent of the style of the stones found on Hadrian's Wall. It shows a carved figure in relief. The halo with the cross behind the head indicates that it is of Jesus, who holds the gospels in his left hand while his right is raised in blessing. In spite of the damage of centuries, the fingers are easily discernible. Like other very early representations of Christ, the chin, albeit damaged, seems to be clean-shaven. Across the top, and possibly at some later date, an inscription has been carved, commemorating a Saxon lady whose name means "Pledge of Peace". It reads: "HIC CORPUS FRITHBURGAE REQUIESCIT IN PACEM SEPULTUM", which is translated as: "Here the body of Frithburga lies buried in peace". Whoever she was, she represents the Saxon community of centuries ago."