Chirton / Cherrington / Churton

Noted in Cox (1875) as a "leaden font" [NB: Cox uses spelling 'Churton']. Described and illustrated in Buck (1951), who identifies the figures in the arcade: "They represent the Twelve Apostles, though St. Peter is usually shown holding two keys. This subject is carved on over twenty other fonts in various parts of the country, those at Avington, Berks[hire], Gloucester Cathedral, Micheldean and Rendcomb in Glo[uce]s[tershire], being the nearest examples [...] The stem and base are modern and are painted chocolate colour". The Victoria County History (Wiltshire, vol. 10, 1975) notes: "The date would suggest that an existing church at Chirton may have been either rebuilt or extensively altered and embellished soon after Lanthony Priory acquired it in 1167. [...] the 19th century. James Dutch's restoration of 1850 retained the basic shape of the church, apart from the addition of a vestry, but its effect on details was severe. [...] Most of the church furnishings were renewed, although the church retains a 12th-century circular stone font bearing carvings of the apostles beneath arcades." Noted in Pevsner & Cherry (1975): "Font. Norman, circular, with statuettes of the twelve apostles under arches. Once apparently an excellent piece." Wrongly listed in Andre (1882) as a 'leaden font' of the Norman period [probably after Cox (1875)]. Noted in Churchcrawler's visit to the church (5 March 2006): "the font, a Norman tub with figures of the 12 apostles under arches, a remarkable piece of sculpture but like so many others sadly mutilated. Norman" [source: http://churchcrawler.blogspot.com/2006/03/wiltshire-churches-and-dogs.html]. Reported also by James Fielding on his visit to this church (25 March 2006): "the font with the Twelve Apostles around the bowl" [source: http://digiatlas.blogspot.com/2006_03_01_digiatlas_archive.html].