Magdalen Laver

Results: 4 records

view of font and cover

the modern font [cf. Font notes]
Scene Description: the modern font [cf. Font notes]
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © John Whitworth, 2008
Image Source: digital photograph taken by John Whitworth [www.essexchurches.info]
Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

view of church exterior - southeast view

Font image
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © John Whitworth, 2008
Image Source: digital photograph taken by John Whitworth [www.essexchurches.info]
Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

INFORMATION

Font ID: 11668MAG
Object Type: Baptismal Font1
Font Century and Period/Style: 15th century, Perpendicular
Church / Chapel Name: Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalen
Font Location in Church: Inside the church [cf. FontNotes]
Church Patron Saint(s): St. Mary Magdalene
Church Address: Magdalen Laver, Essex, CM5 0EG, UK
Site Location: Essex, East, England, United Kingdom
Directions to Site: Located 6 km SE of Harlow, 8 km NW of Chipping Ongar
Ecclesiastic Region: Diocese of Chelmsford
Historical Region: Hundred of Ongar
Additional Comments: damaged font / repaired font / abandoned font / restored font
Font Notes:
Noted in the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (Essex, 1916-1923): "Font: Disused and now in W. tower--octagonal bowl with quatrefoiled panels, beneath each panel a carved foliated boss; octagonal stem, with a two-centred trefoiled panel on each face; base replaced by modern cement, 15th-century, much damaged." Reported in the Victoria County History (1956): "The nave was built early in the 12th century. [...] A damaged 15th-century font, which stood for a time in the rectory garden, was restored to the church early in the 20th century. It has an octagonal bowl with quatrefoil panels and carved bosses. The stem also has carved panels." Noted in Pevsner (1976): "Font. Octagonal, Perp[endicular], with traceried stem and quatrefoils carrying shields." The present [July 2010] font in use is modern, octagonal basin with floral panels on the sides, graded chamfer, plain stem and moulded lower base, octagonal as well. The old font is not mentioned in Bettley & Pevsner (2007). [NB: has the old font been recently removed from the church?]
Credit and Acknowledgements: We are grateful to John Whitworth, of www.essexchurches.info, for his photographs of church and modern font

COORDINATES

UTM: 31U 305774 5737314

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone
Font Shape: octagonal, mounted
Basin Interior Shape: round
Basin Exterior Shape: octagonal

REFERENCES

  • Victoria County History [online], University of London, 1993-. URL: https://www.british-history.ac.uk.
  • Great Britain. Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, An Inventory of the historical monuments in Essex, London: H.M. Stationary Office, 1916-1923, vol. 2: 169
  • Pevsner, Nikolaus, Essex, Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1976, p. 289