Chester No. 6

Richards (1973) records "the upturned early seventeenth century octagonal font" used as a base for the old sundial. Later in the same source Richards writes: "In 1657, the old font was removed", and replaced by "a Bason to hold water" [cf. Index entry for Chester No. 7]. [NB: it is unclear from Richards' description whether "the old font" and the 17th-century octagonal font are one and the same; the church originates back in Norman times and there must have been an earlier baptismal font in it, but ne mention is made of it]. Richards (ibid.), however, "notes another interesting relic, now 'missing' [...] an old oak font cover. It was discovered in the first years of the last century [i.e., early 1800s], buried beneath a pew. As it appears to have been considered of no service and, perhaps, too hard to be chopped up for fuel, it was relegated to a lumber room in the rectory. Half a century later Mr. Massie came across it, and fancying he could detect faint indications of a painting he had it carefully cleaned. Gradually the outlines of figures grouped round a large font became distinct, and the subject was found to be a late seventeenth century representation of a baptism." [NB: this "Mr. Massie' may be William Henry Massie, B.A., who became rector of St Mary's in 1848, according to Richards' own list of rectors].