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may not have been laid down at later periods, or at the time of building the church been made to receive an earlier Font. Yet the fact is, as we have stated, that they generally appear to coincide; and the above peculiaritics certainly militate strongly against the truth of a common opinion, that Fonts were formerly placed in porches. As Norman churches very seldom had porches, and later buildings often retain their original Fonts in their original positions in the interior of the mave, we must conclude that though some part of the baptismal rite was performed before entering the church, the Font itself was never placed in so inconvenient a place; especially as no vestige seems ever to have been observed of such having once been the fact. We may here remark that little reliance must be placed on the kind of stone used for the Font differing from or agreeing with that of the church, as furnishing evidence of coeval date: for many quarries which supplied rag or small ashlar fit for building, would not yield large and solid blocks for Fonts. As a general rule, the style, mouldings, and decorations of Fonts precisely correspond with the details of Ecclesiastical Architecture of the same period. Thus, Norman Fonts commonly exhibit the square form, and the low heavy appearance, which mark the capitals and other features of Norman buildings. The intersecting arch, and varied surface sculpture," the grotesque imagery,' and the shaft and cushion capital, are alike observable in both. In & Sandridge. » West Chelborough. f Locking. Alphington.

St. Philip, Bristol.

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