Illustrated Dictionary of British Churches - Font cover Definition

History and Architecture

Font cover

Exactly what it sounds like - a font cover is a cover for a font! Early fonts may have been uncovered, or had a simply wooden lid, sometimes affixed with an iron hinge to the side of the font bowl. In the late medieval period, and more especially in the Elizaberthan and Jacobean periods that followed, it became much more common to create a fancy wooden cover for fonts.

These covers were frequently carved and painted, and in some cases resembled miniature temples or elaborate steeples. Some covers became so heavy and elaborate that it was necessary to fix a crane or pulley to the wall above the font, with a rope or chain to help lift the cover off when the font was needed. Perhaps the best font cover I've run across in a parish church is at Ufford, Suffolk.

Related: Font  




English Heritage

English Heritage membership

English Heritage membership

Free entry to English Heritage properties throughout England, plus discounted admission to Historic Scotland and Cadw properties in Scotland and Wales.

Membership details

About English Heritage


HISTORY CORNER
Name the mystery historic attraction
See larger image



This politician is generally regarded as the first Prime Minister



11 December, 1282

Llewelyn ap Gruffudd killed near Builth

Builth marked the first recorded use of a longbow by English archers

This Dutch ruler ruled England jointly with his English wife



Passionate about British Heritage!