London No. 63 / Gracechurch

Results: 2 records

INFORMATION

Font ID: 13631LON
Object Type: Baptismal Font1
Font Date: ca. 1685?
Font Century and Period/Style: 17th century(late?), Stuart
Workshop/Group/Artisan: Christopher Wren?
Church / Chapel Name: Parish Church of St. Benet [demolished in 1867]
Font Location in Church: Moved to St. George-in-the-East, the former parish of Stepney
Church Patron Saint(s): St. Benedict [aka Benet]
Site Location: Greater London, South East, England, United Kingdom
Directions to Site: St. Benet was located on the E side of Gracechurch Street, SW corner of Fenchurch
Additional Comments: moved font (the new font) / disappeared font (the old font)
Font Notes:
Noted in Allen (1839?): ''This church having suffered in the great fire of 1666, it was rebuilt […] by sir Christopher Wren […] and finished in 1685 […] The font, at the south-west corner of the bulding, is a circular white marble basin, adorned with cherub's heads, and standing on a pedestal enriched with scrolls.'' Blatch (1995), in his entry for the church of St. George-in-the-East, writes: "The stone font in the north aisle is the only furnishing which has survived the bombing. It came from the City church of St Benet's, Gracechurch Street (pulled down in 1867 for road-widening) and was first used at St George's in 1877."

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone, marble
Font Shape: round, mounted
Basin Interior Shape: round
Basin Exterior Shape: round

REFERENCES

  • Allen, Thomas, The History and Antiquities of London, Wsetminster, Southwark, and parts adjacent, London: published by George Virtue, 26 Ivy Lane, Paternoster Row, [1839?], p. 182 / [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=BVEGAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA1-PA717&lpg=RA1-PA717&dq=queenhithe+church+font&source=web&ots=9dzBGxXJDM&sig=mvPDHDDOyNJa-B_jKtBxJr4-Ny4&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result] [accessed 16 July 2008]
  • Blatch, Mervyn, Guide to London's churches (2. ed.), London: Constable, 1995, p. 413