Goosnargh No. 2 / Gosanarche / Gosanesarwe / Gosannesareghe / Gosenargh / Gosenhar / Gosnargh / Gossenarwe / Gunanesarg / Gusansarghe

Cookson (1888) records a 1854 description by Rev. John Woodhouse, curate of Goosnargh, who describes the poor state of the church in a rhyme, referring to the font in these words: "The font which stands the organ nigh / For dipping made is much too high, / In the same place it long has stood, / And its internal form is good, / But it is of so rude a make, / Let us renew for decent sake". In 1868 a renovation contract was carried out by Mr. Shaw, on the plans of the architect Mr. Paley, both of Lancaster. The font was included in the contract: "steps and pillar to font and lining do. with lead", so it is quite likely that the re-cutting of the basin took place at this time. The Victoria County History (Lancaster, vol. 7, 1912) suggests that the church of St. Mary may have existed by 1281, but "direct proof its existence begins in 1330 […] The font, which stands at the west end of the south aisle, is a square block of stone 2 ft. 3 in. in diameter and 1 ft. 5 in. high with a square bowl standing on a modern pedestal, and may be of 15thcentury date." Hartwell & Pevsner (2009) write: "A great square bowl said to be C15. If so it has been ruthlessly scraped. The base, with single angle pilasters, is probably C18." [the base was added in the 1868 renovation [cf. supra]]. The basin has a scotia-torus decoration at the bottom of the tapering basin, even this is probably re-cut in 1868; the inner well is square and lead-lined; the font stands on a modern two-step plinth also of 1868.