The history of Holy Trinity Lenton

HOLY TRINITY and THE PARISH of LENTON

The Font

When the pulpit was removed to the north side of the Chancel, there was left a font standing in front of the reading desk. This font was removed and put on a stone plinth near the west door, but in 1904 it was again removed to its present position.

This Norman font, dating back to around the year 1100, undoubtedly belonged to the Great Priory of Lenton, and thus in the present Church it constitutes the one binding link between the modern Parish Church and the old.

It was in the possession of the Stretton family but reclaimed when the new Parish Church was being built. Meanwhile it had been used as a flower bowl in Colonel Stretton's garden. Colonel Stretton had built and lived in the house which is now occupied by the Sisters of Nazareth in the Nazareth House complex.

The Reverend George Browne, the vicar, related in his parish magazine the story of its restoration to the Church: He was being shown round the garden of Colonel Stretton, by Brownlow the old parish clerk when he noticed the font in use as a garden decoration, covered with weeds and filled with rubbish. Said the vicar to Brownlow, "That is a strange object. is it part of the old ruins? What purpose did it serve with the Friars of old times? Was it their punch bowl?". Brownlow replied "That is the baptism font that was years agone in that ere church" pointing to the poor tumbling down fabric of the old Parish Church. Vicar said "And how came it there?" "Oh?" replied the old clerk, laughing, "the churchwardens made a present of it to Master Stretton."

The Reverend Browne wrote to Colonel Stretton requesting its return, and he consented. It stood in the Priory churchyard, used as an umbrella stand, until it was removed to the new Parish Church. It was in 1904, through the generosity of Mr. W.G. Player, that the font was erected in its present position, suitably mounted on base steps of marble and oak, and fitted with an oak and wrought iron decorated cover. At the same time the wall behind the font was tiled in the same style as the present reredos and a tablet bears the following inscription:

"To the Glory of God and in remembrance of his mercies, the base steps and cover of the font were given by William and Mabel Player. A.D.1904."

The bowl of the font is 30 inches by 26 inches by 18 inches deep and evidently was intended for the practice of immersion. It is richly carved on all sides.

Description of the Font

Although much worn by the ravages of time, the carvings are discernable. Click on an image to see a larger one.

	On the north side there is an elaborately decorated cross.
	On the South side there is a remarkable portrayal of the Crucifixion. The central Cross occupied by Christ is much larger than the other two. The Roman soldier is piercing Christ's side with his spear.
	On the side now facing east, there is carved at the top a row of cherubim, under them a row of Seraphim, and beneath, all the four Evangelists, and a central panel depicting the Baptism of Christ by John.
	On the West side are four panels: the first represents the resurrection of Christ who holds up his hand in blessing. The angel is sitting upon the stone which has been rolled away from the mouth of the Sepulchre. In the second panel we have a strangely combined view of the entombment and resurrection. A brutal looking Roman soldier is putting on the coffin lid underneath which lies the swathed figure of the Crucified, while Christ himself, with hands uplifted in blessing, stands above. Two angels are seen seated on the left. The third panel shows the three women coming on the first Easter morn to the Sepulchre, bearing in their hands spices and ointments. The fourth panel gives a view of the Holy Sepulchre guarded by an angel seated on the right. This portrayal of the Sepulchre as it existed before the Crusades would seem to suggest that the font was carved by some person who had visited the Holy Land.