Magdalen Laver

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?]