16: Baptismal font and window
Baptismal Font
What is it?
Baptismal fonts are constructed in a wide variety of ways. Fonts are commonly made of stone, metal, or wood. Fonts can be larger and designed for whole body immersion or smaller in size to facilitate the pouring of baptismal water over the head. The design of a baptismal font generally allows for the baptisms of all sizes and ages of people, from infant to adult.
Baptismal fonts can be shaped like a circle, hexagon, octagon, square, or cross. Circular fonts represent the womb and the birth of a person into a novel existence with God. The hexagonal shape of a baptismal font is representative of the sixth day of Holy Week or Good Friday.
https://study.com/learn/lesson/baptismal-font-design-history-function.html
The font of St Mark’s is circular and made of marble.
What architectural interest
The marble font was a gift from Richard Grice esquire. By 1923 there had been 16,666 baptisms and by 1953, 30,000 baptisms had been performed
Window
The back window is the work of William Montgomery. The window would have been designed and crafted from Montgomery’s offices in Flinders Street. These offices have since burnt down.
It was installed in 1898, the A. E. Woolley Memorial stained glass window is very tall, almost reaching the apex of the church. It is full of beautiful examples of brightly coloured and hand-painted stained glass panels. There are also several lozenges embedded throughout the window, representing flowers in bloom. In addition to very stylised Art Nouveau flowers, the window depicts a crown at the top, the nails and crown of thorns worn by Jesus in a quadrofoil of blue, a stylised cross and the letters IHS intertwined in a monogram half way down the lancet window. These letters are a contraction for "Iesus Hominum Salvator"; "Jesus, Savior of Men".
https://www.flickr.com/photos/40262251@N03/43386214494/in/album-72157699737980074/
In Montgomery style, the window behind the font is muted in colour, especially the grey blue. It is understated and elegant. Auguste Fischer is thought to have contributed to the window because the sun at the base of the window is in his style.
Why are windows important
Windows bring a sense of mystery and peace, especially stained glass windows. Stained glass windows bring both colour and movement as the sun moves across the sky and the windows change in response. Stained glass windows in churches have relevance to the life and mission of the churches they are in. They encourage contemplation and resonate with the sermon.
Stained glass windows were once used to educate people who could not read. By looking at the painted scenes in the glass, people could learn about the stories of the Bible and religious teachings. Today, stained glass continues to work in a similar manner as its imagery reminds worshipers of important values and lessons.