The church was designed by William Butterfield and completed in 1867. It is assumed that the font was especially made for the church at the same time, as the decoration on the font is identical to some of the decoration in the church
Limestone or Marble
Both limestone and marble are composed of calcium carbonate. The main differences between limestone and marble is that limestone is a sedimentary rock, typically composed of sediments and also most probably fossils within it too, and marble is composed only of crystals due to metamorphism.
Sedimentary Rock
A river transports pieces of broken rock as it flows along. When the river reaches a lake or the sea, its load of transported rocks settles to the bottom. In a wind-blown desert, the dust and sand grains can fall out of the wind and be deposited. These sediments then build up in layers, like a "birthday cake" .
The weight of the sediments on top of those below squashes the lower sediments . Groundwater moving within these sediments often carries dissolved salts, which then glue the sediments together. This eventually makes a type of rock called "sedimentary rock". It may take millions of years for sedimentary rocks to form.
The oldest layers are generally at the bottom of the layers of strata that form and the youngest layers are at the top when formed. Sedimentary rocks may contain fossils of animals and/or plants that were trapped within the sediments as the rock was formed.
Metamorphic rock
Earth movements can cause rocks to be deeply buried or squeezed. As a result, the rocks are heated and put under great pressure. They do not melt, but the minerals they contain are changed chemically and physically, forming metamorphic rocks.
Sometimes, metamorphic rocks are formed when rocks are close to some molten magma, and so get heated up. When a metamorphic rock is formed under pressure, its crystals become arranged in bands.
Marble is an example of a metamorphic rock. It is formed from limestone being heated and/or deformed by pressure, so has the same chemical composition (they are both calcium carbonate).
Metamorphic rocks do not contain fossils as they are destroyed in the process.
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Given the above you will need to go into the Church and examine the font which is exquisite.
- Examine the octagonal basin which is a beautiful polished grey, in your opinion is this marble or limestone give your reasons for your answer.
- The basin sits on a cluster pillar of many different types of marble, how many types of marble and what are the colours
- Within the marble pillars is a large pillar what do you think this is made of
- Optional please post a picture of yourself outside the church
Please do not post any pictures of the font send your answers through my profile by message or email