Saxon font in baptistery of St Martin's Church, Canterbury. Used for the adult Christian baptism of King Ethelbert c 598. Symbols of everlasting life

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Saxon font in the baptistry (baptistery) of St Martin's Church, Longport, Canterbury. Made as a foot-bath for the baptism of pagan Saxon King Ethelbert by St Augustine c 598AD. The font in its present form stands on a medieval millstone and has been heightened for infant baptism by the insertion of a band of carved arches. The original foot-bath for adult baptism consisted of the bottom two layers of interwoven circles plus the matching thin rim. Princess Bertha, daughter of the Frankish King Charibert, and her chaplain Bishop Liudhard arrived in Canterbury in 562 and prepared the way for St Augustine's conversion to Christianity of Bertha's husband, the pagan King Ethelbert of Kent

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Size: 4369px × 5300px
Location: St Martin's Church, Longport, Canterbury, Kent, England, UK
Photo credit: © Mick Sharp / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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