There are many parts of a Christian church, each with symbolic and ritualistic function. we’ll explore the church baptismal font, and see how this item came to be.
What is A Baptismal Font?
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture used for baptism. In the Christian world, a baptismal font is not a fancy script or style or writing. It’s a piece of furniture. Specifically, the baptismal font is the receptacle in which water is held for the baptism, one of the most important rituals in Christian churches. Baptism signifies the washing away of sins and incorporation into the Christian Church, forgiven of past indiscretions through faith in Christ. So, while some fonts are used to write things down, the baptismal font is used to erase.
The History of the Indoor Marble Baptismal Font
Baptism, as a one-time ritual of cleansing and incorporation, is unique to Christianity, as is the baptismal font in which most baptisms take place. However, these have their roots in Jewish rituals. The act of cleansing was very important in Judaism, and various acts of cleansing had to occur before people could participate in other religious rituals or ceremonies.
The position of the Marble Baptismal Font
Marble Baptismal Font are often placed at or near the entrance to a church’s nave to remind believers of their baptism as they enter the church to pray, since the rite of baptism served as their initiation into the Church. In many churches of the Middle Ages and Renaissance there was a special chapel or even a separate building for housing the baptismal fonts, called a baptistery. Both fonts and baptisteries were often octagonal (eight-sided).
