Baptismal font

A baptismal font is an ecclesiastical architectural element, which serves as a receptacle for baptismal water used for baptism, as a part of Christian initiation for both rites of infant and adult baptism.^[1]

The earliest western fonts are found in the Catacombs of Rome. The fonts of many western Christian denominations that practice infant baptism are designed for baptisms using a non-immersive method, such as aspersion (sprinkling) or affusion (pouring). The simplest of these fonts has a pedestal with a holder for a basin of water. The materials vary greatly, consisting of carved and sculpted stone (including marble), wood, or metal in different shapes. Many fonts are in octagonal shape, as a reminder of the new creation and as a connection to the Old Testament practice of circumcision, which traditionally occurs on the eighth day.^[2] Some fonts are three-sided as a reminder of the Holy Trinity to represent the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in one.

Fonts are often placed at or near the entrance to a

In many churches of the

The quantity of water is usually small. There are some fonts where water pumps, a natural spring, or gravity keeps the water moving to mimic the moving waters of a stream. This visual and audible image communicates a "living waters" aspect of baptism. Some

ewer

can be used to fill the font. Most baptismal fonts have covers to prevent water from evaporating and to protect baptismal water against contamination.

The mode of a baptism at a font is usually one of sprinkling, pouring, washing, or dipping in keeping with the Koine Greek verb βαπτίζω. Βαπτίζω can also mean "immerse", but most fonts are too small for that application. Some fonts are large enough to allow the immersion of infants, however.

In certain regions of England, a common historic type of font design can be identified. In

In Northern Europe, baroque font covers in the shape of a floating angel which are hung vertically from the ceiling of the choir became fashionable in the Lutheran churches of Germany, Denmark and Sweden during the 17th and 18th centuries. During the baptism ceremony, they were lowered using a pulley which symbolized the angel bringing the baptismal water directly from heaven.

^[12]

The earliest baptismal fonts were designed for full immersion, and were often cross-shaped, usually with three steps to represent Holy Trinity, leading down into the baptismal pool. Often such baptismal pools were located in a separate building, called a

tend to use the term "baptismal font" to refer to immersion tanks dedicated for that purpose; however, in the Roman Catholic tradition, a baptismal font differs from an immersion.

Full-immersion baptisms may take place in a man-made tank or pool, or a natural body of water such as a river or lake. The entire body is fully immersed, dunked, submerged or otherwise placed completely under the water. This practice symbolizes the death of the old nature, as found in Romans 6:3–4. In Hagia Sophia, the water was supplied to the baptismal tank from a water tower.^[13] In the

, in a baptismal font; the second, on the day of the feast, in a natural body of water.

In the

(1962–1965), greater attention is being given to the form of the baptismal font. Currently, the Roman Catholic Church encourages baptismal fonts that are suitable for the full immersion of an infant or child, and for at least the pouring of water over the whole body of an adult. The font should be located in a space that is visibly and physically accessible, and should preferably make provision for flowing water.

Baptisms of

Temple of Solomon

(see 2 Chronicles 4:2-5).

Examples

Aspersion and affusion fonts

• 
  Octagonal baptismal font in Magdeburg Cathedral, Germany
• 
  Ship's bell as Baptismal font at chapel, Yeo Hall, Royal Military College of Canada
• 
  Font in a church at

  Lenzen

  , Brandenburg, Germany
• 
  Oval marble font made before 1686, St Robert's Church, Pannal, North Yorkshire
• 
  Baptismal font at Fort Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City, Michigan
• 
  The baptismal font of

  Marne

  , Italy
• 
  Hedesunda Church font, late 13th century, in Swedish History Museum, Stockholm
• 
  Baptismal font of St. John the Evangelist's Anglican Church, İzmir in the shape of a scallop
• 
  The twin-fonts of Saint-Léon Church of La Baussaine, France
• 
  Baroque baptismal font of Catholic City Church of Bremgarten, Canton of Aargau, Switzerland
• 
  Font of Saint-Étienne Church depicts the Holy Spirit as a dove descending, in Wolxheim, France
• 
  Gothic baptismal font of Catholic parish church of Perg, Austria

• 
  The baptismal font at

  St. Raphael's Cathedral, Dubuque, Iowa

  , was expanded in 2005 to include a small pool for immersion of adults.
• 
  Russian Orthodox immersion font in Leninsky District, Tula Oblast, Russia
• 
  Baptism of an infant in the

  St. Petersburg

  )
• 
  Tinned copper baptismal font from Bulgaria
• 
  LDS Church, ca. 1912. The twelve oxen supporting the font represent the Twelve Tribes of Israel

  .
• 
  Baptismal font used in

  Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Church
• 
  Baptismal Font in the Basilian Monastery of Santa Maria, Grottaferrata near Frascati, Italy
• 
  Font of Metz Cathedral in France is an ancient Roman bath converted into a baptismal font
• 
  Bronze baptismal font of St. Mary's Church, Lübeck, Germany
• 
  Baptismal font at St Bartholomew's Church, Liège sculpted by Renier de Huy in Liège, Belgium
• 
  Immersion font of St. Petrus Catholic Church in Wolfenbüttel, Germany
• 
  Modern immersion font of Evangelical Lutheran St.-Petri-Pauli-Church in Eisleben, Germany

• Baptistery
• Bronze laver (Temple)
• Mikveh
• Holy water font
• Nipson anomemata me monan opsin
• Church of the priest Félix and baptistry of Kélibia

Further reading

• Combe, Thomas;
  Paley, Frederick Apthorp (1844). Illustrations of baptismal fonts
  . London: J. Van Voorst.
• Peterson, John Bertram (1907). "Baptismal Font" . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
• Leclercq, Henri (1910). "Holy Water Fonts" . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
• "Font" . Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921.
• Farrugia, David (2017). The Rediscovery of the Baptismal Font in the Liturgy. University of Malta.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Baptismal fonts (category)

• Church Furniture article in Christian Cyclopedia
• The Baptismal font of Renier d'Huy in Liège, Belgium