INSCRIPTION ON THE FONT AT CHELMORTON. 3 



qui variis modis in ipsa creatura, veluti in exigua quadam 

 tabula, summam et sanctam suam Trinitatem quodammodo 

 adumbravit. Cujus infinitudinem, nee loci, nee dierum spatio 

 terminandum, Philosophi pii per circulum hieroglyphice designare 

 voluere, cujus centrum ubique, circumferentia nusquam." :; 



The circle, therefore, is an emblem of the Holy Trinity, and 

 in nothing could that form be more appropriately adopted than 

 in a font, where everyone must be baptised in the names of 

 the Trinity. 



The font is derived from the Baptistery, which was a 

 building distinct from die church itself, and consisted of a 

 porch or ante-room, and an inner room, in which the ceremony 

 was performed, and was frequently very capacious. + According 

 to the Roman rule, it was to be built of a round figure, with 

 the image of the Baptist in it. % The circular form was, no 

 doubt, enjoined because it was emblematical of the Holy 

 Trinity. The circular form has been very general from very 

 early times. In the ancient sarcophagal reliefs in the Vatican, 

 there are representations of small detached baptisteries of a 

 circular form.§ Baptisteries continued separate from the church 

 until the sixth century, when their removal began into the 

 porch of the church, and afterwards into the church itself. ** 



From what has been thus far adduced, nothing would seem 

 more probable than that the octagonal and circular forms 

 should be found exhibited upon the same font; and this is 

 actually the case. At Eckington, Derbyshire, the font has an 

 octagonal top standing on a circular base, tt At Whittington, 

 an old font is circular at the top, and tapers into an octagonal 

 shape below. |J At Snelston, the top is circular, but the base 

 octagonal, ji § and the same is the case at Chellaston. At : ' : ** 

 Bradley, the' font is circular, but the bowl outside is divided 



* Conclusion of the preface to the book, entitled A I6O0EQPIKO2, 



sive Nihil, Aliquid, Omnia antiquorum Sapientium. Oxonire, 1621. 



t At Pisa the font itself is 14 feet in diameter. Murray Handb., 430. 



X Lond. Enc. Baptistery. 



§ Withrow's Catacombs, 540. A very interesting work. 



** Lond. Enc. Baptistery. ++ I Cox's Derbyshire Churches, 224. 



XX Ibid.. 405. §§ Ibid., 249. *** Ibid., 410 



