Syston

FontID: 12437SYS

Object Type: Baptismal Font1

Church/Chapel: Parish Church of St. Peter and St. Paul

Church Patron Saints: St. Peter & St. Paul

Country Name: England

Location: Leicestershire, East Midlands

Directions to Site: Located 7-8 km ENE of Leicester

Font Location in Church: Inside the church

Date: ca. 1300?

Century and Period: 13th century [basin only] -- 19th-century [base only] [composite font], Medieval [composite]

Credit and Acknowledgements: We are grateful to George Friendship, of Camicitia@aol.com, for his help in documenting this font.

Church Notes: (The following information is extracted from Syston Parish Church: a Short History & Guide, by Stephen Haddelsey (Revised by Cannon Kenneth Court, 1997). Copies are available priced £2.50, either from the Church or by contacting the vicar.) "Syston and Its Parish Church. For many centuries folk have lived in the settlement of Syston. The name "Syston" ('Sid Stan' or 'Long Stone') reminds us that an Anglo-Saxon village was founded on the site of an older settlement (after c. AD450). To the great Midland Kingdom of Mercia, of which this was part, four Christian missionaries came from the north in 653. It would have been through their teaching that a simple church was first erected, probably on the site of the present building. (There are what appear to be the remains of a saxon cross in the alcove above the piscina). In the ninth and tenth centuries England was rent by Viking invasions and incursions. After their check by Alfred the Great one of the five armies settled round Leicester, especially along the Wreake valley. At this time Christianity was all but extinguished, but it reasserted itself to convert the invaders. When William the Conqueror had finally consolidated his power and sent out his recorders to compile the Domesday Book (1086) they found an unnamed priest-in-charge ministering under Suain and his Norman overlord Hugh de Gretismal. The Leicestershire Survey of circa 1130 records that tenure had passed to the young Earl of Leicester. The village long remained under distinctly foreign rule, for the Book of Fees (1251-2 tells us that "Sydeston is land of the Normans in the hand of the Earl of Winchester". In 1291 the patronage passed to the wardship of Edward I. In 1323 William de Ferrers was granted licence to bequeath the patronage to the Augustinian Priory of Ulverscroft, and in 1361 the Priory gained licence to appropriate the church. For more than two hundred years the monks watched over the church. With the Dissolution of the Monasteries the patronage passed to the University of Oxford. The church was rebuilt more than once. The earlier church was replaced by an Early English (13th century) building, features of which remain. A Decorated chancel (14th century) was added, and the tower and nave enlarged in the Perpendicular style (15th century). Little more was done for four centuries. The population crept up from 30 in 1086 and 32 in 1377 to 367 in 1676. Meanwhile the social scene was changing. An act of 1777 ratified the enclosure of its open fields, and the village turned increasingly to manufacture. By 1841 the 1,421 inhabitants possessed some 280 knitting frames. The building of the railway along the Wreake and Soar valleys made an important junction, bringing added prosperity. By 1901 the population numbered 2.930, and by 1951, mainly through residential development, 5,508. This figure had trebled by 1997. The church was accordingly enriched and expanded. In 1873 the nave was completely restored; the north and south aisles and the south porch rebuilt, and the tower repaired. In 1881 the fifth pair of arches were added at the east end of the nave; the 14th century chancel rebuilt and extended, and the present Lady Chapel built. In 1888 the priest's vestry was added. The dedication. The church is dedicated to the Apostles Peter and Paul and their respective emblems of crossed keys and crossed swords can be seen in many parts of the building. A Tour of the Building. The Exterior. The finely proportioned and embattled _tower_ (javascript:picturewindow('tower.jpg','The_Tower',193,343)) can be seen for many miles (better seen from a distance than in the town!). Beneath the parapet is a horizontal band of quatre-foils. The present clock was erected in 1875 and a second face was added to the west side of the tower in 1949. The _West Doorway_ (javascript:picturewindow('westdoor.jpg','The_West_Door',185,300)) with its pointed arch, square hood-moulding, and quatre-foils, is a goodly example of 15th century work. The door itself was erected, as the Latin inscription across it states, in "The Year of Our Savior 1887 the Fiftieth Year of the Reign of Queen Victoria". Around the window above the motif of panelling seen in the interior is repeated. At the base of its hood-moulding are the heads of Ss Peter and Paul with shields bearing their symbols (badly-worn now). Jutting out if the south-west buttress is a curious _sculpture of three figures_ (javascript:picturewindow('figures.jpg','Sculpture_of_Three_Figures',130,109)) , two female and one male (scurrilously reputed to be of the vicar and his two wives!). The Nave is rich with sculpture within and without. Especially notice the string course, the row of carvings above the clestory windows. The small Royal British Legion memorial by the south porch was dedicated in 1941. Next to it is an early _14th century wall tomb_ (javascript:picturewindow('tomb.jpg','14th_century_wall_tomb',187,200)) , carefully preserved when the south aisle was rebuilt. The stone coffin, whose lid bears the remains of a floriated cross, lies below a canopy cinque-foiled within the head. Such tombs are rarely found in the exterior of a wall. Two features of the east wall of the chancel are the "Consecration Cross" and the statue of St Peter above the window. The forecourt of the west of the tower was laid out in 1948 as a memorial to the men of Syston who gave their lives in the Second World War. (Formerly there was a house on this site). This has now been enhanced by a rose bed in the centre. The Nave. The _centre nave_ (javascript:picturewindow('nave.jpg','the_nave',165,245)) was built c.1430 in the perpendicular style. It was restored in 1871-3 and a fifth arch and clerestory window added to the east end in 1881. The stone piers are hexagonal. Both this shape and the continuation of their cinque-foil panelling through the arches and up into the clerestory windows is unusual. The corbels at the base of the arches' hood-moulding are worth noticing. The early _English Font_ (javascript:pict urewindow('font.jpg','the_english_font',174,241)) (c.1300) is plain, of millstone grit. There are only about a score of ten-sided fonts in the country. Tradition has it that during the Commonwealth period it was carried into a nearby field for use as a cattle trough! It now stands on a Victorian base. The _pulpit_ (javascript:picturewindow('pulpit.jpg','the_pulpit',148,248)) of 1898 has carvings of Saint Augustine, Columba, Patrick and David. On the back of the pulpit are small statues of the patron saints with shield bearing their symbols. Around the base are angels with shields bearing the names of all these saints. The Nave Roof. The fifteenth century nave roof was restored in al but its westernmost bay in 1936 and repainted and gilded in 1985. It is rich in carvings. In the five bays are paturae of various designs. Five of these date c.1450, while the oldest, representing a hart in a thicket (the badge of Richard II) dates back to the 14th century. The subjects of the other five are:- 1. a small face peeping through a loop 2. the crowned head of a king 3. four small faces looking inwards 4. four small faces looking outwards 5. a priest wearing a crown All these are thought have been carved by the monks of Ulverscroft Priory. There are also thirty three more heads to be seen in the roof. The roof is known as an _Angel Roof_ (javascript:picturewindow('roof.jpg','the_angel_roof',192,381)) from the twelve wooden figures forming wall posts for the beams. During the restoration work it was discovered that the wings had been torn from their shoulder blades. The two new figures next to the chancel arch show their original appearance. Each of the angels bears a shield. Their designs on the south side looking east to west are:- 1. The arms of the Diocese of Leicester 2. A scourge (emblem of the Passion) 3. A winged man (St Matthew) 4. A boat (the "nave" or ark) 5. A crown of thorns (emblem of the Passion) 6. A lion (St Mark) On the north side, also looking east to west are:- 1. Crossed keys and a sword (Ss Peter and Paul) 2. A crowing cock (emblem of the Passion) 3. The arms of Oxford University, Patrons 4. A fox and stirrups (from the old county arms) 5. A chalice and serpent (St John) 6. A winged ox (St Luke) The 19th century corbels under the two angels nearest the chancel represent the heads of a bishop and Queen Victoria. The carved bosses on the beams looking east to west represent:- 1. The beam against the chancel wall: a wreath and shield with "I.H.S." (the first three letters of Jesus in Greek) 2. East side: angel with shield bearing a crown with "E. VII R." underneath. The new beams were made during the short reign of the uncrowned king. West side: two cherubim 3. East side: an angel holding a chalice West side: angel holding a scroll inscribed "Spes in optima Deo" ("The best hope is in God") 4. Leaf work 5. Leaf work 6. A humorous representation of the declining sun The restoration of the roof in 1963-7 cost 1,535. The painting and gilding (together with lime-washing of the walls) in 1985 cost £25,000! The Tower. This is a good example of 15th century Perpendicular. The panelled tower arch is very fine. In 1922 the War Memorial panelling and screen were dedicated in tribute to those who gave their lives in the First World War. The Bells. A spiral staircase in the south-east corner of the tower leads up to the ringing chamber and belfry. The tower holds a peal of eight bells, the oldest of which, inscribed "Ave Maria" (Hail! Mary) bears the cross and top of the Leicester bell-founder Thomas Newcombe II who died in 1580. The inscriptions on the bells are as follows:- Treble: 1. "GERIT NOMEN PETRI CAMPANA ECCLESIAM CONSERVAT DEUS". J.Taylor & Co., Loughborough 1885 ("This bell bears the name Peter. God preserve the church"). 2. "SEX OLIM PLENA NUNC OCTO VOCE SSONEMUS". J.Taylor & Co., Loughborough 1885 ("Once six, now we sound with eight full voices"). 3. "GOD SAVE QUEEN ANNE 1704". 4. "GOD SAVE HIS CHURCH 1704 W. NORTH J. WHATTOFF CG. WARDENS". 5. "WILLIAM PARR, THOMAS ADCOCKE C. ANNO DMI. 1634". 6. "AVE MARIA GRA PLENA DNS TECUM" ("Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with thee"). 7. "I.H.S. NAZARENUS REX: IUDEORUM FILI: DEI MISERE: MEI 1628". ("Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, Son of God have mercy on me"). Tenor: The same dated 1619 The bells were rehung in 1930. Formerly at the Death Knell three tolls were given for a male, two for a female, on all the bells beginning with the treble. On New Year's Eve the Old Year is tolled out and the new year fired in. A "Pancake Bell" was rung on Shrove Tuesday and the Tenor tolled thirty-three times at 3pm on Good Friday. The Aisles Both aisles were rebuilt in 1871-3. In the east wall of the south there is a mosaic of St John the Baptist. The stained glass in the centre of the three windows of the north wall was installed to the memory of Father H S Syers (vicar 1869-75) who worked to propagate the ideals and discipline of the Oxford Movement. The fourteen Stations of the Cross in lime wood were given in 1989. The Chancel In 1881 the 14th century _chancel_ (javascript:picturewindow('sanctuary.jpg','the_chancel',193,280)) was completely rebuilt, and the east window erected. A brass plate in the north wall gives the name of three vicars and their relations who were buried under the former chancel. In the south wall is a piscina and three sedilla, in the Early English style, a 19th century reconstruction. The shafts are original. In the north wall is to be found a plain mock triangular-headed aumbry. The earlier chancel had a roof loft where it would appear that a chantry was founded by William Grendal. (Chantries were suppressed in 1547 under an act of Edward VI). The chancel was re-ordered in 1985. The crucifix on the east wall (1986) is the work of Donald Starkey. The East Window The stained glass in the 19th century _east window_ (javascript:picturewindow('window.jpg','the_east_window',147,197)) can be divided into series. The ten larger and lower panels centre around the Crucifixion. These divide into three series. In the upper part of the largest panels we see events of the Passion and Resurrection. Looking from left to right these are:- 1. Christ wrestling in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane while three apostles sleep. 2. Christ carrying the cross as he meets the women of Jerusalem. 3. The Crucifixion. 4. Christ is laid in the tomb. 5. The women find the empty tomb. Immediately below these, in the same panels, we see Old Testament prophets who foretold these events. These are:- Isaiah, Jeremiah, Moses, Ezekiel and Daniel. In the panels below, we see depicted types and allegories of the Old Testament, each of which foreshadows that event of the Passion or Resurrection shown above. These are, from left to right:- 1. Jacob wrestling with the angel. 2. Abraham preparing to sacrifice his son. 3. Abraham's sacrifice. 4. Joseph being placed in the well. 5. Jonah escaping from the fish's belly. The twenty-five smaller panels in the top half of the window, centre around Christ reigning in glory (top centre). To his right and left are the four evangelists. Below him are Our Lady and St Joseph. They are flanked by six of the apostles: Bartholomew, Peter, Andrew, James, John and Philip. These are surrounded by twelve of the prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah on the third row of panels; Nahum and Habbakuk on the ends of the second. The Lady Chapel The Blessed Sacrament is reserved in this _chapel_ (javascript:picturewindow('ladychapel.jpg','the_lady_chapel',211,317)) built in 1881. The three statues in the reredos are of St John, St Peter and St Paul's, and were carved respectively by a journeyman carpenter, a workman and a local fifteen-year old girl. Two small carvings at the top of the reredos represent the sinking of the Titanic and an eclipse of the sun. Immediately behind the altar are three shields bearing emblems of the Passion. In the floor each side of the altar can be seen symbols of the four evangelists. The stained glass window depicting the resurrection is a memorial to the Victorian architect T.W. Ordish. The oak screen, parclose screening to the sanctuary, and Organ case are the work of W.D. Caroe. The Organ The _organ_ (javascript:picturewindow('organ.jpg','the_organ',241,381)) , installed in 1889 and the work of Taylor of Leicester, replaced an earlier instrument. The Church Plate There is a silver paten c.1500 and a chalice c.1575. In 1887 they were to be sold but Mr F.J. Morell purchased them for £10 and returned them to the church. The remainder of the plate is Victorian and undistinguished. The Church Records The extant records begin with a transcription of baptisms from 1644. No signature appears until 1652 when Henry Boulter signs as vicar. The first recorded rector was Gilbert Mallari, instituted between 1209 and 1219. From that date we have an almost unbroken record of Syston's parish priests. A list of incumbents and patrons hangs to the rear of the north aisle wall. Many of the records concern everyday life in the village, such as the administration of the Poor Law, the transfer of residence, indentures of apprenticeship, the upkeep of roads, bonds and wills. The most interesting documents are a Deed of Trust and Conveyance and its duplicate dated 20th January 1660. By this several benefactors made over the sum of £27. 10s. 0d. for the relief of the poor each old St Thomas' Day (21 December). These records are now on permanent loan to the Leicester Archives Department.

Font Notes: Click to view

Material: stone

Font Shape: decagonal (mounted)

Basin Interior Shape: round

Basin Exterior Shape: decagonal

Haddelsey, Stephen, Syston Parish Church: a short history & guide, [s.l.]: [s.n.], 1997

Pevsner, Nikolaus, Leicestershire and Rutland, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1984

Upcott, William, A bibliographical account of the principal works relating to English topography, London: Printed by Richard and Arthur Taylor, 1818