The Font in St. Leonard's Shoreditch

On Christmas Day, during the stormy winter of 1797, my 4xGreat Grandfather John Wait together with his sister Ann, was baptised in St. Leonard's Church, Shoreditch, in the East End of London. One of seven children of John Wait, a carpenter (1765-1831) and Ann of New Inn Street. His parents probably chose this particular date, not because of any seasonal or religious reason, but because it was one of the only days of the year they were not working.

I will never know if John Wait senior and his family celebrated Christmas. They might have eaten rabbit if they were lucky and drunk gin and beer, which was easier to obtain than fresh drinking water. Although he was a carpenter by trade, life was incredibly hard.

Four generations of this Wait family lived within the sound of St. Leonards bells; many were baptised and married there. So its font is a link to my past. It stands immediately to the left as you enter St. Leonard’s - symbolic of baptism being the beginning of your life within the church. In 1740 a Mary Drought gave £20 towards constructing this font, made of white marble with a circular basin supported on a hexagonal baluster. My spine tingles when I imagine the many geneartions of my ancestors gathered around that ornate font.

Recently my son and I explored Shoreditch. We wanted to re-trace the footsteps of our ancestors along some of those old narrow streets. I  encourage clients to do this after they have received my research. Visiting where your forefathers worked, prayed and called home can be a fascinating experience!