Hodgeston

The RCAHMW (1925) notes: "The font bowl (27 inches square externally, and 20 inches internally, with a depth of 6 3/4 inches) is of cushion type ; the east and west faces each bear a cross of quasi-early form. The bowl stands upon a circular shaft and square chamfered base; marks of a cover are visible." [NB: the RCAHMW (ibid.) reports that the church underwent a major restoration in 1851; was the font restored at that time?] Noted in Tyrrell-Green (1928) on a list of mostly Welsh fonts consisting of a square basin decorated with scallop motif (includes one from Bristol St Philip's and another from Thornbury, Gloucs., both bordering with Wales). Described in Lloyd et al. (2004): "Good font of the square Norman type with incised linear pattern and crosses on the E and W faces." The font, illustrated in the Friends of Friendless Churches' web site [www.friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/churches/hodgeston/], is indeed a typical square type of the period and place, with an original basin and a probably later base consisting of a plain cylindrical stem and upside-down bucket-shaped lower base. As indicated in Lloyd et al. [cf. supra] there are incised lines 0n all faces, with an incised chrismon [not a cross] in the east and west sides. The lower sides of the basin are decorated with a scalloped pattern of four scallops per side, and the underbowl appears designed for a different base than the one it now has. The wooden font cover is square and flat, devoid of decoration, and it appears modern. At present the font, raised on a a modern (?) plinth, is located in the west end, near the organ. Noted in Thurlby (2006) in a long "List of scalloped table-top fonts in Pembrokeshire".