Newchurch nr. Dymchurch

Described in Hasted (vol. 8, 1799): "The font is of stone, an octagon, having two shields of arms, one, Two keys in saltier; the other, A sword erect, the point upwards". Described in Glynne (1877): "The font is Perpendicular of black marble and octagonal, with shields on the alternate sides, charged with keys, sword, and rose. The stem has eight buttresses attached." Noted in Newman (1980): "Font. Perp[endicular]. Buttressed stem. Octagonal concave-sided bowl bearing roses and shields on alternate faces. On two shields the keys of St. Peter and the sword of St. Paul." The Parish web site [http://www.newchurchhistory.co.uk/home.asp?ID=9] [accesed 8 May 2009] notes: "At the west end of the church is a superb late Medieval font with an octagonal bowl. There is a shield on seven of the eight sides, one has a sword of St. Paul, another the crossed keys of St. Peter, and others bearing the White Rose of York, the Red Rose of Lancaster and the Tudor Rose. It is thought that this font may have been built as a thanks offering for peace under the first Tudor King, Henry VII (1485) after the Wars of the Roses." The Roughwood British Churches Album [http://www.roughwood.net/ChurchAlbum/Kent/Newchurch/NewchurchStPeterStPaul2005.htm] [accessed 14 Februay 2010] notes and illustrates both the font and a holy-water stoup mounted on the north porch.