Medieval baptismal font of Lemanaghan (Liath Manchán) parish church (OF015-004003-), Co. Offaly. Only half of the limestone font now remains and is stored in the schoolhouse across the road from the church ruins. A monastery at Lemanaghan (Liath Manchán) was founded in the 7th century by Manchán whose feastday falls on the 24th of January. Octagonal-shaped baptismal font with central drainage hole visible. The font was used as a basin which allowed the water to drain away during the ceremony of baptism, where water is poured onto a person who then becomes a follower of the Christian Church. Baptism comes from the Greek word baptizeis meaning to immerse or immersion in water. In Christianity, the number eight represented rebirth and re-creation, a new beginning, and man’s true “born again” event when he is resurrected from the dead into eternal life. The first historic reference is to Noah and his family as “eight persons were brought safely through the water” (1 Peter 3:20).
Comments