Linstead Parva / Lower Linstead / Nether Linstead

Lewis' Dictionary of 1848 reports "a curiously sculptured font" in this church" [NB: Lewis uses 'curious' as a synonym of 'interesting']. Dowsing (1885) reports on his 1643-1644 'cleansing' trip to this church, where he and his people dealt with "Crosses on the font". Knott [www.suffolkchurches.co.uk,linsteadparva.htm] [accessed 16 February 2007] has collected some useful notes in his entry for this church. Knott writes: "The font is interesting, because it clearly did not come from this church at all. Like many older octagonal fonts in Suffolk, it has one blank side, suggesting that it once stood against a pillar in the north arcade, as once many did. But, of course, that cannot be, because this church doesn't have any pillars at all. The church of St Augustine, Ipswich, is supposed to contain the font formerly in St Peter, Linstead Magna. But Mortlock suggests that St Peter's old font may actually be this one, here at St Margaret. Perhaps St Augustine contains the old font from St Margaret. Cautley, however, writing just 10 years after the demolition of St Peter [i.e., Linstead Magna], insists its font went to Ipswich. He was diocesan architect at the time, so shouldn't he know?". Cautley's later edition (1982) appears to suggest the font was re-cut to make the new pews fit at the sides.