Page:A History of Cawthorne.djvu/113

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HISTORY OF CAWTHORNE.
89

octagonal one of the early part of the fifteenth century, of Roche Abbey stone, bearing some sacred emblem on each of its eight sides—eight, because "few, that is, eight souls, were saved" in the Ark "through water." (1 Pet. iii. 20, Rev. New Test.) On one side, and repeated lower down, are the letters "F P O," interpreted to stand for "Fons Purificationis Omnium," "The Fountain of Purification for all." Other sides bear the trefoil or shamrock, the emblem of the Holy Trinity said to have been used by St. Patrick when preaching in Ireland; a shield with the five sacred wounds; a mystic rose; and more than one form of cross. The Font cover is a memorial of the late Mrs. Stanhope from the offerings gathered in Church on Nov. 14th, 1880. It is an oak crocketed spire with tracery, and bears a brass with the words, "An offering by the Congregation in Memory of Elizabeth Julia Spencer Stanhope, 1880."

The upper part of the Font has unfortunately been much cut down. The bowl of the Font was at one time in the pleasure-grounds of Cannon Hall. The base was happily discovered at the late Mr. Wigglesworth's farm at Hill Top, Hoylandswaine, having been removed from the Church by a former Churchwarden, when a small marble font—of more convenient size, as was thought—was being substituted for this original one. The discovery of the base lead to the two parts being again united and restored to their proper place.

The West Window of this Aisle has stained glass at present only in the tracery. The right hand figure as we look at the window represents St. Wilfrid of York, and the left hand St. Cuthbert, who, after being Abbot of Melrose, was made Bishop of Lindisfarne in 684. Previously to the Reformation, the dedication of Durham Cathedral was to St. Cuthbert: he is said to have introduced the practice of burial in churches. He is represented as holding the head of St. Oswald which King Oswy his brother had placed in the arms of the dead St. Cuthbert, when he recovered it from the Pagans by whom St. Oswald was slain in 642.

Of the three Windows to the South, the eastward one alone is filled with stained glass. It is to the memory of the late General Stanhope, and represents Joshua in armour in the centre, and