London No. 28 / Aldermary

Noted in Allen (1839?): "The font, in a pew in the north aisle, near the west end, is a plain polygonal marble basin, with the following inscription:-- Dvtton seaman generos' navs in hac parochia, anno salvt 1627, ac in ajvsdem, ecclesia renatvs, hoc baptistervm, Nov. 1682, lvens dedit-- The cover of oak resembles a canopy of the pointed style". A Notes & Queries entry in vol. 17, reproduces a letter of correction from 23 February 1850, addressing an earlier claim by a Mr. Rimbault [in vol. 12 of the same journal]; the letter appears to be an apology in defence of the churchwardens and includes an interesting reference to the baptismal font at St. Antholin's, a receipt ["receaitte"] entered in "the accompte of Henrie Jaye, Churchwarden of the Parishe of St. Antholyne, from the feaste of the Anunciacon of our Ladye in Anno 1580 unto the same feaste followinge in Anno 1581"; the text of the receipt reads: "R'd of Mr. Thorowgoode for an olde font stone, by the consent of a vestrie v's iiij'd" [i.e. the amount in shillings & pence]. Described in Blatch (1995): "Font -- This, as the Latin inscription records, was given by someone named Dutton Seaman in 1627. It is unusual in being enclosed with twisted baluster rails probably salvaged from the old altar-rails. The material is marble and the font is scalloped underneath; the ogee font cover is plain." The font consists of a moulded octagonal basin with a high-relief shell-like underbowl, raised on a baluster-type pedestal stem on an octagonal lower base and a tiny square plinth, as the period and style demands. The wooden cover is domed with a tall spire-like finial; it is not plain, but painted and decorated with carved motifs (striations, rosettes, etc.). [NB: In an untitled (?) article on 'Notes regarding the Will of Reverend John Wing' [source: www.one-barton-family.us/genealogy/haroldb/d365...] it is mentioned that the infant John Wing, born on 12 January 1583/1584 in Canbury, Oxfordshire, was baptised in London in "the Saxon baptismal font" of old St. Mary's [i.e., St. Mary Aldermary] -- we have not been able to trace this Saxon font anywhere else and therefore have not included it in this Index, however, Stow's 'Remarks on London' (1722) describes St. Mary Aldermary as: "an ancient foundation erected before the coming in of the Normans, and therefore it has been called Older Mary, as being the Older Church of St. Mary in the City of London", although it makes no mention of a Saxon font in it -- for another London font of the Saxon period see Index entry for London No. 42, St. Etheldreda's]. [NB: the different references seem to indicate that there may be three fonts related to this entry: 1)a Saxon font, 2) a font purchased ca. 1580, and 3)a font donated in 1627 -- to be resolved]