Greenwich / East Greenwich / Greenwiche / Grenewic

The Parish web site informs: "about 1150, Pope Eugenius III took St Alfege's site of martyrdom under his personal protection. Records have not survived to show how soon the first permanent structure was put up on the site, but it is certain that a church (regarded all over Europe as of prime importance) stood here ever since, enlarged and beautified as circumstances allowed. Early in the 13th century, a second church was built and lasted some 500 years until the storm of 28 November 1710. [...] At about 4.00am on 29 November 1710, as a result of a severe storm, the roof of the church collapsed, one of the supporting piers having been weakened by the numerous excavations undertaken for burial purposes; the tower, however, remained undamaged. [...] The [re-building was done] between 1712 and 1714 but consecration was delayed until 29 September 1718." The present font is modern, perhaps of the time of the re-building, and consists of a moulded octagonal basin with cartouches on the sides (one contains the IHS monogram) and a decorated underbowl chamfer; raised on a plain octagonal stem and a splying graded lower base, octagonal as well. The wooden cover is octagonal and flat, with metal decoration and ring handle; modern. [NB: we have no information on the destroyed font].