Baptismal font at St Catherine’s

Following last weekend’s information regarding woodworm, the wooden font has been removed. Richardson’s have cleaned and made good the old stone font that had been out in the garden and placed it in the baptistery area. This may well be the original church font, but we don’t know for certain. However, it has seen hundreds of baptisms over the years in the parish. Its appearance maintains the ‘patina’ of its age.

The symbol on the restored baptismal font - IHS - is a representation of the initials of the Holy Name of Jesus. The symbol was devised as a focus of reverence by the Franciscan preacher St Bernardino of Siena (1380-1444). The device was quickly taken up across Europe and several examples of it were placed in Cumbrian churches before the Reformation. The devotion of the IHS - 'Iesu Hominum Salvator' - 'Jesus, Saviour of Mankind' - was resumed in our churches in the 19th century, as in this instance. Prof Michael Mullett.

Thank you to Mike Slessor for re-painting the IHS.