Baptismal Font
by Stanley Boyd Spotts, '02

We could not be more excited about our new baptismal font.  What follows are some of our past articles about the font accompanied by some photos of the finished work.  The dates of the articles are included.

Baptismal Font Commissioned

[7 March 2002]  Soon, very soon, the Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU will have a new, one-of-its-kind baptismal font!  Through the generosity of private donors and Lutheran Brotherhood's Congregational Matching Grant Program, $750 was raised for the acquisition of a font.  But why buy a font out a catalogue when there is a fine sculpture program at WVU?  Visiting the WVU Creative Arts Center, Chaplain Riegel was introduced to Stanley Boyd Spotts, a senior sculpture student, and the process began.  Spotts visited the Chapel of Christ the King to make sketches of the ecclesiastical art already in use, get a feel for the space, and discuss parameters with the chaplain.  A week later sketches of the new font were completed, and, as of this writing, work has already begun.  It is very appropriate that a chapel dedicated to serving the academic community at WVU should feature a baptismal font sculpted by one of WVU's current students. Spotts is pictured above right reviewing sketches.

Baptismal Font Nears Completion

[18 April 2002]  Senior sculpture student Stanley Boyd Spotts, angle grinder in hand, works on the upper structure of the new baptismal font destined for the Chapel of Christ the King (a.k.a., the Lutheran Campus Chapel at WVU).  Reminiscent of the manger, the upper structure will house the 15-pound bronze bowl of the font.  Delivery of the new font should be within a week.

Baptismal Font Takes Form

The Finished Work

At left:  Sculptor Stanley Boyd Spotts stand with Emily Reason.  Ms. Reason, a senior ceramics major, assisted by making the pattern for the font's bowl.
 

At right: Detail of the bowl and its housing.  The bowl is cast bronze and weighs approximately fifteen pounds.  The bowl housing echos the manger on the chapel's advent altar frontal.  We are reminded that the Word became incarnate, born as an infant and laid in a humble manager.
At left:  Detail of the thorns which adorn opposing cruciform legs.  These thorns echo the chapel's lenten altar frontal.  We are reminded of  the passion of Christ, the redemptive sacrifice of the one deserving a crown of gold, not thorns.
 

At right:  Detail of the bronze medallions which adorn the remaining legs.  These echo the chapel processional cross.  Alternating with the thorns, we are reminded of the relationship between death and resurrection.

Student Sculpted Baptismal Font Dedicated/Blessed by Bishop Loci

[6 May 2002]  A new baptismal font graces the sanctuary of the Chapel of Christ the King.  Commissioned with funds made possible through designated gifts and a matching grant from Lutheran Brotherhood, the font is an original work by senior sculpture student Stanley Boyd Spotts.

The Most Rev. Dr. +Ralph Dunkin presided over the 5:00 PM dedication mass held Sunday, May 5, which was attended by visitors from as far away as Cumberland, MD.

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