164 The Field Nattiralist 's Quarterly May 



unmistakably the marks of the Norman diagonal-tooling (see 

 F. N. Q., vol. i. No. 4; "Norman Architecture," III.) It 

 consists of two blocks of stones — one for the bowl, one for 

 the pillar and base — of hard dark sandstone. It was once 

 covered with thick lime-wash, traces of which are still to be 

 seen. The bowl is octagonal on the outside and circular in 

 the inside, with a margin of 6 inches at the angles ; and it is 

 borne on a short thick pillar (16 inches high, 70 inches thick) 

 with roll mouldings and narrow footing. The total height is 

 about 37 inches. Judging from the bowl's inside diameter 

 (27 inches) and depth (11 inches), it must be inferred that 

 the font was intended for immersion, although there is suffi- 

 cient evidence to show that the churchyard living water or 

 spring (called The Well) was used for administering the rite 

 of baptism. At the angular margins are to be seen cross 

 pattee (eight in number) incised and painted blue (renewed). 

 This form of the cross appears to be a particular favourite of 

 the Templars, and they symbolise (like the Greek cross) 

 catholicity and equality. On the 4-inch rim of the octagonal 

 exterior of the bowl are twenty -four equilateral triangles 

 (three on each side) painted red (renewed). Of course the 

 equilateral triangles symbolise the Holy Trinity ; but in this 

 special case it represents the baptismal formula, " In the 

 Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." 

 Below the triangles, on the west front of the font (where 

 the priest usually stands at baptism), there is a carved panel 1 

 (7 inches long by 5^) showing a Latin cross bruising the 

 serpent's head. This well-known design represents the 

 victory of the cross, or it may illustrate " manfully to fight 

 under the banner against sin, the world, and the devil." 

 Strictly, the latter is represented in Christian iconography 

 by the manicor or manicore — i.e., a hybrid animal, with a 

 human head and a globular body ending in a serpent's tail. 

 I think the said panel ought to have had the Sacred Dove, 

 as the eight sides of the font represent the Holy Ghost and 

 His seven gifts. Lastly, Garway Church font was a (super- 

 stitious or) locked font : the lead used to fasten the staples 

 for the lock is still to be seen. In ancient days mothers 

 were wont to place their babes suffering from convulsions, 



1 I think this panel and other ornaments on the font are of later date (probably 

 fourteenth century), because they cut across the Norman diagonal tool-marks. 



