It's 1170 and you're standing outside this church in Castle Frome, Herefordshire. At this time St Michael and All Angels is still a fairly new church having only been completed 30 odd years ago.
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Your neighbour told you that they've finally finished and installed the new font so you've wandered up to take a look. This is the sight which greets you. A carved masterpiece mounted on a plinth of human figures combining the religious scenes and mythical beasts that you've seen on the church over at Kilpeck. It's the same men who have chiselled out all those astonishingly intricate patterns. The Kilpeck font is charming with its clasped hands held in front of its belly, but this is in a different league. It is on a scale the like of which you have never encountered before....its enormous size and depth of detail leaves you feeling awed and flabbergasted.
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Reach across the centuries 850 years and the effect is the same. I have been fortunate to see several fonts on my travels, but never one like this. If you are unfamiliar with it then I hope just a little sprinkle of its magic is conveyed by the photos Mr GBT took for me.
Arilx
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Wow!
ReplyDeleteIt was the size which was the greatest surprise.
DeleteWonderful photos. Thank you. Charmaine
ReplyDeleteThanks Charmaine. It was very gloomy in there, but Mr GBT did a great job.
DeleteI pity the poor soul squashed underneath it - he looks as though he might be from yet another place or era. Scale-wise - could you dunk an adult in it?
ReplyDeleteNo it's; not that big, but it would come up to my waist I think
DeleteThose carvings are just as 'crisp' as the day they were first chiseled out. Amazing. And no. I have never seen a font like this in my life. Where, but in England, can you so plainly see the connections between early Christianity and pagan beliefs. It makes plain how the old Testament came to be.
ReplyDeleteIf you're ever back in the UK it's certainly worth seeking out.
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