The Baptistry

 

Prior to the construction of East Boldre's chapel in its current form in 1844 we understand that full immersion baptisms were carried out at Hatchet Pond or at Lymington Baptist church (which was the mother church until 1817). From 1845, following the rebuild of the chapel, a large baptistry (roughly 3m x 1m x 1.4m deep) allowed baptisms to finally take place inside. 

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There was no mains water onsite until 1949 when water was laid to a single tap in the back store (now the kitchen). Prior to that we understand that the baptistry was filled with water brought from Hatchet Pond in barrels on a cart.

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There is no plug or drain from the baptistry so the water had to be bailed out by hand. Rumour has it, given the work this involved that sometimes, it was left full ready for the next baptisms, possibly months later.

The baptistry  is made of smoothed concrete with four cast concrete steps and is painted blue - whether that is the original form is unknown.

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When we bought the chapel it was covered over by a large platform on which the table had previously sat. Parts of this platform could be removed to allow access to the baptistry when needed, the rest of the time it was hidden from view.

 

Our works to renovate the chapel preserved the baptistry intact. It was filled in with bricks found around the site and sand before capping it with concrete. Teak parquet flooring, taken from the chapel's lobby, was used to match it into the existing floor. A subtle detail in the layout of the parquet floor identifies its position near the shop fridges. You'll have to look closely but the entire outline of the baptistry can be seen.