Paglesham / Pachesham / Packlesham / Padesham / Pagglesham / Pakelesham / Parklesham

Benton (1867-1888) notes that the church "is a structure of Norman foundation", and mentions the remains of a wall-mounted stone holy-water stoup on the right side of the south doorway, of pre-Reformation date; it also mentions a modern font "presented by the late Rector, the Rev. Chrales Almeric Belli" [cf. infra]. The British Listed Buildings database [http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-123161-church-of-st-peter-paglesham] [accessed 19 July 2010] reports an octagonal font of the 19th century in this church. The SEAX Essex Archives Online [http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk] entries for Paglesham [ref. T/Z 151/160 and SMR 35028] notes: "The octagonal font is C19 and was donated by rev. C.A. Belli (rector 1827-60 and precentor of St Pauls Cathedral ) [...] font cover in memory of Kenneth William Keeble, 'lost at sea' 1941". [NB: this church goes back to Norman times, but we have no information on the earlier font(s)]. The font consists of an octagonal basin with palin vertical sides, a moulding at the upper rim and a scotia-torus combination at the bottom of the basin; plain tapering underbowl chamfer, with splaying pedestal below, also octagonal, onto a square lower base. The font has an odd aspect, as if re-carved.