Furtho

Pevsner & Cherry (1973) describe this church as "Disused and derelict (last used as a parish church in 1921). Mostly of 1620", but do not mention the font. The Victoria County History (Northampton, vol. 5, 2002) notes: "In the 1190s the abbey of St. Pierre-sur-Dives was in dispute with Peter de Chamnet (or 'de Kainneto') and William Furtho concerning the advowson of the church (or chapel) of Furtho. [...] From at least the mid 16th century, when the village was depopulated [...] The church was extensively rebuilt, especially the nave and the tower, by Edward Furtho in 1620 [...] The basically medieval chancel has 13th- and 14thcentury windows". The VCH entry does not mention a font in this parish. A recent [2005] photographic essay of this church by BeeGees [www.geebeephoto.com/Walks/Furtho/index.htm#furtho6] [accessed 7 April 2009] shows the church in good keeping and a baptismal font inside it, at the west end of the nave. The Churches Conservation Trust entry for this church [www.visitchurches.org.uk/content.php?nID=11&churchID=115] [accessed 7 April 2009] informs: "It was rescued by the Friends of Friendless Churches and subsequently passed to the Trust in 1990 […] The chancel is 14th century but the nave and squat tower were reconstructed early in the 17th century. The font and its cover date from this time. St Bartholomew’s escaped later restoration but ceased to be a parish church in 1920."