Church Fonts (Shire Library)

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In the Eastern Orthodox Church, baptism is always by full triple immersion, even in the case of infant baptism (aspersion or pouring is permitted only in extremis). For this reason, Eastern baptismal fonts tend to be larger than their Western counterparts and they are usually portable. Eastern Orthodox fonts are often shaped like a large chalice (significant since the Orthodox administer Holy Communion to infants after baptism), and are normally fashioned out of metal rather than stone or wood. Symbolically, Orthodox baptismal fonts represent the womb of the Church, as well as the tomb of Christ, since the baptized individual is put into the tomb/womb and is brought out born into a new life in Christ. [14] During the baptismal service, three candles are lit on or around the baptismal font, in honour of the Holy Trinity. In many Orthodox churches, a special kind of holy water, called " Theophany Water", is consecrated on the Feast of Theophany (Epiphany). The consecration (literally, "Great Blessing") is performed twice: the first time on the eve of the feast, in a baptismal font; the second, on the day of the feast, in a natural body of water. Additionally, consider font psychology and how different fonts may evoke specific emotions or convey certain messages. By carefully selecting and pairing fonts, you can enhance your church’s online message. Now let’s move on to some final thoughts on using fonts to enhance your church’s online message. Final Thoughts on Using Fonts to Enhance Your Church’s Online Message

Below is the word “Church” in different typefaces. Pay attention to how each makes you feel. What’s your gut reaction? Do any feel old? Do any feel new? Do any have energy? Are any too plain? Which is most appealing to you and why? Which would appeal most to your target audience and why? Ok, so now you know what you’re looking for. How do you actually go out and find them? Here are three questions to guide your search. You can see this in practice all over this post. There are bolded section headers (like “Mix Weights”) and regular weight body text. You may also see mixed weights of the same fonts combined to make a logo, especially when there is no space between two words– like DEFINING GRACE. o]nce a valid disposal, by way of sale or gift, of the contents of a church has been made, the goods in question become ordinary things in commerce and are wholly divested of any sacred character.” [emphasis added]. For event announcements, choose fonts that convey excitement and grab attention. Now, let’s move on to best practices for typography and font pairing. Best Practices for Typography and Font Pairing

Importance of Choosing the Right Font for Your Church Website

Since our post Th ey bury fonts, don’t they? in 2015 we have covered many examples of the movement, the replacement, and sometimes destruction of baptismal fonts. This update was prompted by recent CFCE considerations of submissions in relation to Chichester Cathedral and Gloucester Cathedral. These are reviewed below in addition to summaries all of the consistory court judgments relating to fonts, Guidance from the Church of England and links to other L&RUK posts in this area.

Detail of roundels or medallions with portraits in profile. Renaissance details of leaves and putti. ix] Nicholas Orme, Going to Church in Medieval England (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2021), pp. 10-11. u]nder the strict principles of stare decisis, a judgment of the Court of Arches is not binding in the northern province, but in the absence of any contrary statement in the jurisprudence of the Chancery Court of York, the proper course is to treat it as being a persuasive decision which is to be followed. … If it is right, as Mr Ainsworth suggests, that the CBC is intending to produce some guidelines on this matter, then it is to be hoped that they will reflect the opinion of the Court of Arches”. Pulpit - The pulpit is the most important piece of furniture in a Presbyterian Church. This is where the minister preaches the word of God. It is a large wooden structure which is positioned at the front of the church, either in the middle or slightly to one side. It is raised above the level of the congregation. This is because Presbyterians meet to worship under the authority of the word of God. Some Presbyterian services begin with an elder carrying in the Bible and placing it on the pulpit. This is again symbolic, showing that the word of God is central to worship. Hanging from the pulpit is a piece of material called the pulpit fall. A picture of the burning bush, the symbol of Presbyterianism, is embroidered on the pulpit fall along with the words ‘ardens sed virens’, which means ‘burning but not consumed’. The burning bush represents the presence of God, just as God was present on Mount Sinai when he spoke to Moses.the Opinions of the Legal Advisory Commission, “ Church building: improper removal of the contents”, May 2007, provide further support for this general proposition. Paragraph 9 reads:

Geoffrey R. Sharpe , Historic English Churches: A Guide to their Construction Design and Features (London: I. B. Tauris & Co., 2011) The following are notes I have made from Nicholas Orme’s excellent book Going to Church in Medieval England. Well worth a read. The 2011 Measure contains separate provision (s.76(1)) for dealing with the font, altar and Communion plate in accordance with directions of the bishop, unless the scheme directs otherwise. Such items are usually transferred by the DBF [Diocesan Board of Finance] to another church in the area of the benefice, failing which they might go to another church or chapel in the diocese, as directed by the bishop. The DMPC should advise the Commissioners on any particular requirements for dealing with these items in the scheme itself so they can include the appropriate wording. A font is usually located near the entrance of a church, as this is where the first sacrament of baptism takes place before members are welcomed into the Catholic Church The SPAB made no comment in its written representation dated 8th September 2020. At a meeting of the Cathedrals Fabric Commission held on 15 December 2021 the above proposal and representations were considered and the Commission decided to refuse the element of the application for a new font base for the following reasons:As the medieval period advanced it became common for fonts to be covered by increasingly elaborate covers, usually of wood. These covers might be richly carved and painted, and rise to an extraordinary height, as at Ufford in Suffolk. Re Eastern Green St. Andrew [2018] ECC Cov 6 Petitioners sought to remove the existing stone font installed in 1975, currently situated at the north-east end of the nave, near the pulpit. This would be replaced with a new portable solid-oak font, incorporating the original font bowl and cover. The Chancellor granted a faculty, subject to a condition that when not in use, the new font should be positioned at the west end of the church. He also authorised the disposal of the stone font, and if it could not be used in another church or appropriate setting, it was to be buried in the churchyard.

S76 of the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011: this states that in the case of a church building being disposed of, unless the scheme itself makes other provision, ‘the bishop shall … give directions as to how the font, communion table and plate used for the purpose of Holy Communion shall be dealt with’… Accordingly, the Chancellor deduced that when determining petitions relating to fonts, [and altars, communion plate &c], the court should give particular regard to their heightened sacramental significance and symbolism. [see also Last rites for fonts – continued]. This seems silly, as the ministry you offer is so much more important than how your branding looks, but think of it this way: There are likely more churches in town than there are brands of toothpaste at the grocery store. If we don’t have a recommendation or invitation from a friend, we often choose what looks most appealing. That it is not liturgically necessary for the font base to match the other liturgical furnishings and may be desirable for it to be of a different design c) a church may wish to install a new fixed font and dispose of its existing one, either as part of a scheme for redesigning all the liturgical furniture, or because (as at Shipton Bellinger) they regard it as too big and want the space, or see it as a trip hazard (a growing, and often spurious, claim), or simply because they dislike it. If a faculty is granted, this raises the disposal issue in its sharpest form. b) a church may wish to change its baptismal arrangements by having a ‘moveable’ font up front, or to introduce a baptismal pool in some part of the building (ideally combining this with provision for infant baptism in the same place); here the question is whether the former font remains in situ or is removed. However this is handled, there should be a permanently visible symbol of baptism in the church, and a moveable font that gets pushed out of sight does not fulfil this, which is an argument for retaining the old font (subject again to F1.3). Of course, where a font is in a separate west end baptistery it is likely to remain, unless the parish wants to strip this area out for some other use.The Chancellor sought to seek to draw some general statements of principle from the authorities to which Ms Arlow had taken him [40], extracts of which are reproduced below: Font - In a Presbyterian Church, the baptismal font close font A stone basin used to baptise babies using holy (consecrated) water. is positioned at the front of the church to the right hand side. It is usually made of wood and holds a small silver coloured bowl which is used to hold water for the baptism of infants. Re St. Mary Lenham [2014] Morag Ellis Comm. Gen. (Canterbury) The petitioners sought to remove the font from the west end of the church to the chancel and to remove one pew from the west end of the church. The judgment contains a discussion of liturgical tradition and the provisions of Canon Law regarding the siting of a font. Faculty granted. The Arches Court considered three propositions put forward by Mr McGregor regarding the circumstances in which a font might ever be sold or disposed of to another use: (i) a font is an essential part of the interior of a church; (ii) a font may not lawfully be put to any other use than the administration of Holy Baptism; (iii) a font which is no longer required for the purpose of the administration of Holy Baptism should be put beyond use, [paragraphs 37 to 57, summarized in Re St Philip Scholes in paragraph 38].