1912 Font Notes Thomas Heywood Masters

Previous vicar Terry Louden wrote:

The greatest treasure of the church is the font. It is one of only seven such fonts in this country, made from black Tournai marble in what is present-day Belgium. It came here around 1150, just as the original church was being completed. It was probably a gift from the then Bishop of Winchester, Henry of Blois, grandson of the Conqueror, brother of King Stephen and Chancellor of England, who was known for his generosity with regard to his churches.

Click here for an article by John Mackinlay on the Tournai Font, in the East Meon History website.

Below is a PDF of notes written by Rev Thomas Heywood Masters  in 1912, which traces the origins of the Font to Tournai in Hainault, Belgium