Barnham Broom / Berham / Bernham Broom / Bernham Ryskys

Blomefield (1805-1810) writes: "B[ernham-Broom]. Its two churches are consolidated, and the church of Bickerston, or Bixton, which was dedicated to St. Andrew, was consolidated to them Ao. 1680. [...] The Church of St. Peter and Paul belonged to Will de Mortimer; the rector had a house and 30 acres of land; both the churches together were taxed at 20 marks, paid synodals and procurations 13d. Peter-pence 13d. the carvage, with the chapel of Ryskes, 4d. ob. The Church of St. Michael stood in the same yard; its foundation may be seen on the north side of the present church; at Domesday making, it was in William de Mortimer's patronage; the rector had a house and 30 acres of ground, paid 3s. procurations 2s. synodals, and carvage with Bernham St. Peter as above, so that I am apt to think that this was Rysk's parochial chapel, and being in one patron, was now consolidated, and became a chapel only to St. Peter". Blomefield (ibid.) names "Ralf Bacon" as first recorded rector, in 1329. Neither of the the two Domesday entries cited in Blomefield (ibid.) (fol. 94, 290) mentions a church or a priest in it. The present font consists of a polygonal basin raised on an octagonal pedestal base, lower base and plinth. The basin is quite strange, with a Greek-cross plant, and a broad crenellation at the top. The octagonal-to-square lower base has ball motif at the four angles. The wooden cover is also cruciform; flat. Although the church dates from the 15th century the font must be modern; Victorian? Or, has part of it been much altered?