CHURCH OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY, LYTTELTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 148, 5 November 1853, Page 5

CHURCH OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY, LYTTELTON.

Among the additions and ornaments which from time to time are added to our Church and its furniture, we are much pleased to record the placing of a new Font, of stone, which stands at the west end of the north aisle, in a compartment prepared as a baptistry iv the general arrangement of the Church. The style of the Font is in^ accordance with that of the building, the middle pointed, and it derives additional interest from the fact of being constructed from the stone of the Colony, a polychrome effect being produced by the employment of stone of two colours, viz., the red claystone porphory, found in such abundance in the hills round the town, and a beautiful cream coloured grit-stone from a small island in Chartaris Bay. The Font is raised on a wide spread octagonal base consisting of two steps in red porphory, and imposed on these steps is a third rise in form of a Greek cross in the white stone. This cross which coincides with the cardinal points, does not recede in accordance with the lower steps, but is continued level to the extent of the octagon, when it falls the whole height at once ; thus by its colour and position casting up the shape of the symbol in strong relief. Resting on the cross is the Font proper. First a chamfered octagon plinth in red porphyry, on which rise four dwarf columns of white stone with well cut caps and bases, clustered round a massive centre column of red porphyry.. This group of five columns carries the bowl of the Font which is in shape an octagon, bold and massive, from a single block of the red stone. On the west side of the bowl marking the situation of the priest at the office is a small stone desk for the service book. The effect aimed at in the employment of the two coloured stones seems most happy. The substructure is striking and massive, and adds great dignity to the design ; the body gathers up well from the base, and the whole composition has a very satisfactory effect, which would be much enhanced by a cover or canopy to the bowl, a feature, the beauty of which is so striking as to induce us to hope that an appendage so appropriate may not long be wanting to this Font. The work has been very creditably executed by Mr. Chancy, the stone mason, from designs and under the directions of Mr. Mountfort, the Architect of the Church. The Font was erected from private benefactions, Mr. Chancy giving a great part of the labour. Mr. Mountfort informs us that the design for the completion of the composition includes the enclosing from the nave and aisle of the compartment in which the Font stand's with open screen work to form a baptistry, an idea which, if carried out, would add greatly to the beauty of the Church. These and other decorations of the Church might very appropriately be executed as sepulchral memorials, thus tending to adorn the temple with its fitting ornaments, instead (as is too often the case) of disfiguring it by incongruous monuments which have no harmony with the building, and which destroy its solemnity as a Church.