Baptistry, Christ Church, Lancaster

LANCASTER - A new Baptistery, erected at Christ Church as a Memorial to the late Vicar, Rev. Canon Bartlett, was opened on Thursday, 12 December. The Baptistery is built out — at the west end, under the west window, an arcade of one large centre and two smaller side arches being inserted under the window, which has been raised in the gable. The piers have shafts, which are continued above the — caps to form the pedestals to two figures of angels with spread wings, which meet over the apex of main arch. The wall space between Arches and window-sill is of ashlar and left for a future carved diaper ornament. The centre portion of the Baptistery is in the form of a semi-hexagonal Apse and will contain the Font with its cover of oak, which will be suspended from a wrought-iron crane to swing from one angle. The centre window of the Apse is a three-light tracery headed window, the two side windows to Apse being two-lights; there are also two single-light windows, one on each side of the Apse. The two latter and the centre three-light have been filled with painted glass. The roof is covered with lead, and the flat panelled ceiling will be decorated. The work has been carried out by the following firms: Mason. Mr. T. Mawson; Joiner Messrs. R S Wright and Sons; Plumber and Glazier, Messrs. Calvert and Heald, all of Lancaster; Sculpture, Mr. R. Bridgeman, of. Lichfield; Stained Glass, Messrs. Shrigley and Hunt, Lancaster and London; Wrought iron Font crane, Messrs. Hardman, Powell and Co., of Birmingham; Wrought-iron Gas Brackets, Messrs. Hart, Son, Peard and Co., of London. The cost (exclusive of stained glass) has been about £500. The work was carried out from designs by and under the supervision of Messrs. Austin and Paley, Architects, of Lancaster. [Builders Journal 7 January 1896 page 348]

Reference           Builders Journal 7 January 1896 page 348