334 The Field Naturalist 's Quarterly November 



Compare these with similar patterns on the grand south 

 doorway : the difference in conception and execution is 

 quite noticeable to an experienced eye. This window, 

 I am inclined to think, formed (part or whole) the low 

 entrance of the Cell of Badoc. 1 The Norman builder 

 found the cell-doorway too low for the principal entrance 

 into his church, and yet very handsome to be cast aside ; 

 therefore, he set it up as the west window, with additions. 



Next, let us examine the small block of stone similar in 

 shape to a Roman altar ! At first, on observing the basin- 

 shaped cavity on its upper end, we would say (as it has been 

 said) it was a holy-water stoup. Was this stoup fixed or 

 portable? If fixed, one face would be plain; but it is not 

 so. If portable, the weight of the stone would be against it. 

 Moreover, a portable holy-water stoup was not known. 

 Let us examine the symbolical carvings on it : (a) clasped 

 hands on the upper margin. 2 Surely this symbolises, " We 

 receive this child into the congregation of Christ's flock " ? 

 (b) the serpent with four heads looking downwards at about 

 the middle. This was pointed out to me as clearly referring 

 to the use of holy-water. True, holy-water is used to 

 exorcise ; but, at the same time, the baptismal service says, 

 " Renounce the devil and all his works," and " may have 

 power and strength to have victory to triumph, against the 

 devil," etc. 3 The four heads represent the cardinal points of 

 the earth. Therefore, I conclude, that the said stone (now 

 left standing in the chancel) is a (portable) font such as 

 frequently used in chapels, oratories, cells, or missions ; and 

 it possibly may belong to the Cell of Badoc. The oratories 

 or cells of the Celtic hermits were in several instances the 



1 Usually about 5 feet or less high, i.e. just high enough to allow the hermit 

 to enter in with bowed head, as is still the case in the East. See drawings of 

 hermit's cell in old manuscripts. These dry stone beehive huts and oratories 

 exist in fair numbers in Ireland, but of which we have practically no trace in 

 England. 



2 Holy- water was never for brotherhood or union ; hence the clasped hands 

 cannot refer to the use of holy-water. 



3 The holy-water was originally the consecrated baptismal water reserved ; 

 and this reservation came afterwards to be made in a special vessel called the 

 Stoup. Among Eastern Christians the consecrated baptism water is (to the 

 present day) taken away in bottles to be reserved in homes. Holy-water stoups 

 are not known among them. 



