St Peter, East Marden, Sussex

I Location

Site Location
East Marden
National Grid Reference
SU 807 146
County
traditional: Sussex
now: West Sussex
Diocese
medieval: Chichester
now: Chichester
Dedication
medieval: not confirmed
now (or name of monument): St Peter
Type of building/monument
Parish church

II General Description

The church appears to date from the 13thc. The aisleless nave has opposing doorways and is contiguous with the chancel, without an arch. There is a S porch and N vestry.

V Furnishings

1. Fonts

(i)

Font.

Font.

A plain cup-shaped font. The lead lining of the basin overlaps the rim and is decoratively cusped. Large mend on NW side of rim just visible under lining. The tapering, concave stem and plinth appear to be modern. (Location: W end of nave.)

Dimensions
h. of whole 0.99 m
h. of bowl only approx. 0.44 m
diam. (interior) 0.51 m
diam. (exterior) 0.70 m (includes lead lining)

VII History

Marden is mentioned in the Domesday Book, but no church. The church was restored in 1875. When Walker published this font in 1908 the lining did not overlap the rim, and she noted that staples remained on one side.

VIII Comments/Opinions

The font is probably late 12thc. or early 13thc. in date.

IX Bibliography

  • M. F. Drummond-Roberts, Some Sussex Fonts Photographed and Described. Brighton 1935, 33.
  • I. Nairn and N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England: Sussex. Harmondsworth 1965, 269.
  • A. H. Peat and L. C. Halsted, Churches and Other Antiquities of West Sussex. Chichester 1912, 107.
  • Victoria County History: Sussex.4 (Chichester Rape) 1953, 107-08, with plan.
  • A. K. Walker, An Introduction to the Study of English Fonts with Details of those in Sussex. London 1908, 108-09.