Islip nr. Kettering No. 1 / Eslep / Hystlepa / Isteslepe / Itteslep / Slepe / Ycteslepe

An article on the 'Restoration of St. Nicholas Church, Islip, Northamptonshire' appeared in the Illustrated London News issue for 2 December 1854; it informs of the renovations recently [i.e., ca. 1854] carried out in this church, and illustrates the central nave with an octagonal font placed against a pillar of the northern arcade. No date given but the font shape conforms to the late Medieval, 15th-century type common in England. The Victoria County History (Northampton, vol. 3, 1930) informs that the advowson of this church can be traced as far back as 1202, and notes: "The church is of one period throughout, having been rebuilt in the latter part of the 15th century, and is a very perfect example of a village church of that date, unaltered in plan and little changed by restoration. [...] The font appears to be of 13th century date, and consists of a plain octagonal bowl on eight short attached shafts without bases or capitals." Mee (1945) notes: "The church is 15th century throughout except for the base of the tower, which is older" and mentions a medieval font; Mee also mentions a holy-water stoup of the same period by the south doorway [cf. Index entry for Islip (Nhants) No. 2 for this stoup]. Neither font nor stoup are mentioned in Pevsner & Cherry (1973). The entry for this church in Historic England [Listing NGR: SP9867178911] notes: "Church. C14 and C15, restored 1854-55, vestry added 1881 [...] Holy water stoup with shallow vaulted niche to right of south door. Octagonal font with C18 cover."