Rodbourne St. Augustine / Even Swindon

No entry found for this placename in the Domesday survey. The web site of the Parish Church of St Augustine of Canterbury, Even Swindon [http://www.staugustines-swindon.co.uk/completion.htm] notes: "The font, originally sited at the church entrance, was moved to below the lectern in the 1970's when alterations were made inside the church and the parish room was built. It is an exact replica of the 12th century late Norman font in St Leonard's Church, Stanton Fitzwarren […] The first, 'Eclesia' stands for the church - and the carving is of the crowned Divine Bride, holding the sacred chalice and killing evil (depicted as a serpent) with the stem of the cross. The second compartment, inscribed 'Cherubim' shows a six winged cherubim, with its eyes covered to show its spiritual nature. The Cherubim holds a sword to show it is guardian of the Church. The other eight compartments show eight crowned knights holding shields and weapons. These represent the goodly Christian Virtues and they are depicted dwarfing figures, which represent the evil vices fighting in the baptised soul. Details of these remaining compartments are: Bounty overcoming Avarice: Largitas v Avaricia -- Humility overcoming pride: Humilitas v Superbia -- Gentleness overcoming strife: Pietas v Discordia -- Mercy overcoming envy: Misericordia v Invidia -- Sobriety overcoming Drunkenness and excess: Modestia v Ebrietas -- Temperance overcoming Wantonness: Temperancia v Luxuria -- Patience overcoming Anger: Pacientcia v Ira -- Chastity overcoming impure lust: Pucicicia v Libido". -- There is a chance that the font came from another church (St Mary Rodbourne Cheney) as the parish of St Augustine was formed from this. However, the architect of St Augustine's W Masters, came from Stanton Fitzwarren, so I think this is the more likely story - Either he, or his father was vicar there." [source: e-mail of 9 June 2007 from Neil Fisher to BSI]. [We are grateful to John Wilkes, of www.allthecotswolds.com, for bringing this font to our attention, and to Neil Fisher, webmaster of the web site of the Parish Church of St Augustine of Canterbury, Even Swindon, http://www.staugustines-swindon.co.uk/completion.htm, for the deteails and photographs of this font]