St Patrick's Parish, Southport: Parish History

The Baptismal Font

The Baptismal Font is constructed from Portuguese Mocca Creme Limestone, and is featured both polished and honed. An inset band of stone between the two surfaces contains lines from 'St. Patrick's Breastplate'. Indeed the altar, ambo (lectern), and tabernacle plinth are all in the same stone - each with appropriate lines from the 'Breastplate'. The same stone has been used for the Presidential and Deacons' seats on the sanctuary, and for the shelves on the credence tables either side of the sanctuary. A piece also supports the sanctuary lamp near the tabernacle.

As you look up from the Baptism font you will see that that the benches are arranged to form a virtual semi­circle around the centre piece of the Church - the altar. This gives a better sense of a community gathering around the altar. No one is too distant from the action. People can see each other's faces - there is a sense of the people gathered being a community, a family, one body.

The benches were purchased in 1997 from St. Swithin's Parish, Gillmoss, Liverpool, which was being reduced in size, and re-ordered. They are made of Brazilian mahogany and were stripped, re-polished and tailored by Ormsby's of Scarisbrick to form the overall semi­circular shape. The beauty and quality of the wood has only to be seen to be appreciated.