Haarlem No. 1

The Grote of St.-Bavokerk, Harrlem site [https://www.bavo.nl/over-de-bavo-en-de-nieuwe-kerk/grote-of-st-bavokerk/geschiedenis/] [accessed 2 January 2022] notes: "In 1423/1433 werd een rijk bewerkte Vontkapel gebouwd tegen de westkant van de kerk met daarin een fraai doopvont met smeedijzeren kraan". Kerkelijke historie en outheden der zeven vereenigde provincien, vierde deel, Oudheden en Gestichten van Kemmenerland, Amstelland, Noordholland en Westvriesland. Uit het latijn vertaald door Hugo Franciscus van Heussen (Leiden, 1726) mentions a baptismal font of 1472 in this church. A further communication from Pol Herman to BSI (e-mail of 7 January 2022) includes his comments and several relevant documents [added to the BSI folder for this entry]: "I have received from Koen Vermeij (historian of the church) some additional information about the medieval baptismal font of Saint Bavo church at Haarlem [https://www.heemsteedsecourant.nl/premium/lokaal/mensen/604541/koen-vermeij-is-bezeten-van-de-bavo] In the meantime I have collected what I could find about the baptismal fonts of the old Saint Bavo church. It's not very much. The first mention is from 1422. A copper baptismal font, made in Mechelen, is collected in 1426 from the harbour at Brielle, to be placed in the newly built font chapel in the old nave. It is very curious that, while the new choir was already finished by then, and with plans, hopes and ambition being in place at that time for building a new nave, still an extension (font chapel) was added to the old nave. In 1445 the right time had come for major investments : a new nave was built, and a new baptistery was built in the new nave. It took some time to finish. This corresponds with your mention : The baptismal font was erected here in 1472. We are not sure whether the old font from Mechelen was moved to the new baptistery, there is only a report of a lead bowl."