Syderstone / Cidestna / Scidesterna / Scisterna / Sedistern / Sidestern

In his entry for "Sedistern", Blomefield (1805-1810) writes: "The Church is dedicated to St. Mary, and has a nave, and a south isle, covered with lead, (the north isle is down,) with a round steeple, and one bell", and names "William de Witchington" as first recorded rector, without a date; the next retor is listed for 1318, but the gap between the two is not given. The present baptismal font at Syderstone St. Mary's appears to be a modern and somewhat reduced version of a popular octagonal design; of the expected height, but much thinner than the original models. A pointed-dome wooden cover with ball finial may be of the same period. [NB: this font may date from major renovations to the church carried out in the 18th and 19th centuries; the original fabric is probably 12th-13th-century, but we have no information on the earlier font(s)]