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This is a text-only version of an article first published on Tuesday, 15 October 2013. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
THE new font bowl at Yarnton Church celebrates the way water symbolises our spiritual life.
The font cover has been moved so it can no longer be used as an extra table for hymn books and notice sheets.
The Revd Nathan Jarvis says: "We all know that we rely on water.
Nothing would grow without it.
Life would be barren and dry.
It is the same with our spiritual life.
We use water a lot in church.
We use it liturgically, practically, and symbolically. We ask the Holy Spirit to come and bless it as we prepare to baptise a child, and we remember our own baptisms several times a year by being sprinkled with it in the morning service. "
The church commissioned potter Andrew Hazelden to make the font bowl.
Nathan said: "We knew instantly that he was the right person for the job.
As an iconographer 'writes' an icon, so Andrew prays through whatever he is creating.
We think the result is wonderful.
"The font is one of the first things you see when entering our beautiful ancient church.
This is no coincidence.
Water is the beginning of our journey with Christ.
Come and see it for yourselves, stop and ponder the Living Waters.
Be refreshed and renewed. "