Rivenhall

An "old font" in the church used for the baptism of Charles Callis Western on 9 August 1767 is mentioned in David Nash's 'A short history of the Western family' (2001) [http://www.rivenhall.org.uk/default.asp?pg=history+of+the+western+family] [accessed 21 July 2010]. The Biritish Listed Buildings database entry for Rivenhall St. Mary's [http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-113506-church-of-st-mary-and-all-saints-rivenha] [accessed 21 July 2010], however, reports a late-19th century font in the church [probably from the restoration of the church by J.A. Repton in the late 1830s]. Rodwell & Rodwell (1986) explain that the old font "was ejected between 1839 and 1853 and rediscovered in 1972 in the garden of the Old Rectory, where it was serving as a birdbath [...] It was returned to the church in 1977. The font is made of greensand and is now badly decayed. It comprises four pieces: the bowl, the base, and two demi-columns [...] The bowl is octagonal and plain except for a hollow chamfered moulding around the lower edge. It was broken and mended in antiquity with iron cramps set in lead. The octagonal shfat is fluted but undecorated, although the flutes would have been ideal for niche paintings. A thin plaster lining, which covered the drain hole in the centre of the basin, was found on removal of a modern partial filling. Drainage was originally provided through the shaft by a circular hole, funnel-shaped at the top. The present circular base consists of redressed Caen stone blocks mortared together with a rubble centre. The original base was presumably octagonal and made of greensand." Rodwell & Rodwell (ibid.) remark that the dating of the font is not easy "on account of its extreme plainness", but have "no objection to seeing the font as a part of the early 14th century refurbishing of the church". Rodwell & Rodwell (ibid.) note that the old font "must have been discarded by 1853 at the latest, for in that year the new font cover (of oak with an iron ring and studs) was purchased for £3". Additional information in this source is related to the positioning of the font in a set of precise directions given by Rector Hawkins in writing in May 1877. Bettley & Pevsner (2007) note: "Outside, near S[outh] porch, octagonal font of c. 1300". [NB: the font was still located outside the church on 15 October 2007]