Shipley / Scapeleia / Sepelei [Domesday] (WSussex)

Harrison (1920), who does not mention a font in this church, writes: "The massive central tower with the chancel is nearly pure Nor., built early in 1 2th c. by the Knights Templars and transferred to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem." Described in Tyrrell-Green (1928) as a baptismal font of the Early English period, the basin decorated with mouldings. The Victoria County History (Sussex, vol. 6, pt. 2, 1986) notes: "William de Braose (d. 1093 x 1096) gave Shipley church c. 1080 to the abbey of St. Florent, Saumur (Maine et Loire), which granted it back to his son Philip c. 1096 in exchange for Washington church [...] Nothing is known of the building which existed c. 1080. [...] The nave, tower, and chancel date from c. 1140 and represent one of the earliest Templar churches in England." The VCH entry does not mention a font in this church. Octagonal font throughout, decorated with mouldings at the upper and lower rims of the basin, and the middle of the stem; stands on a two-step quadrangular plinth; wooden cover, a stylised version of the Jacobean ribbed font cover.