Baptistry and font

Opposite the porch is the baptistry, where baptisms are conducted. The marble and alabaster font was made by A. P. Sharp of Great Brunswick Street, Dublin (now Pearse Street). It has an oak cover with ornamental brass work and a counterbalance arrangement by which it can be easily lifted, despite its weight; as the lid lifts up, a dove descends, symbolising the Holy Spirit coming down upon the newly baptised person. 

The baptistry also contains three stained glass windows which, like the windows in the porch, were presented by Bishop Plunket in 1929, and made by Heaton, Butler, and Bayne. They depict, from left to right, St Brigid, shown with the oak tree at Kildare where she founded her monastery; St Patrick, shown preaching to the High King at Tara and baptizing the king’s daughters; and St Columba, being ordained and supervising the building of the monastery on Iona. All these scenes have to do with the beginnings of Christian life in one way or another and are highly appropriate to baptism, which is the sacrament of new birth into the Christian faith. However, it is also significant that 1929 was the centenary of Catholic emancipation in Ireland, an important event for the young Irish Free State. The choice of Irish saints for these windows reflects the desire of the Church of Ireland to assert its own links to the early Irish church. Bishop Plunket himself was an enthusiast of Irish language and history and promoted the use of Irish language hymns in Church of Ireland churches.

From here please move to the central aisle of the church between the pews.