Fons et origo: the symbolic death, burial and resuurection of english font stones

Based on a Lincolnshire sample, this paper identifies the phenomenon of ‘font burial’. After exploring the theological and liturgical background, it suggests that this practice symbolises an understanding of baptism as death and burial as well as rebirth. This symbolic understanding draws our attention to both the decoration and materials used for fonts and highlights the extent to which font stones have been regarded as ‘special’ artefacts, treated in exceptional ways. A focus on their symbolic value privileges the reuse of older stones as fonts and examples of the ‘conversion’ of Roman and Anglo-Saxon monuments are documented.