Today, as we know, during a baptism, the basin, known as the baptismal font, is placed at the front during the ceremony, then emptied and put away. But in the past, here at La Nativité church, the font was fixed in place and could not be moved. Why was this? Because a pipe was connected to it to drain the water… directly into the ground. A bit like a washbasin, but without the sewage.
Dating from the 1920s, these fountains have since been restored and made removable. Which is rather practical, since at the time, they were located in the sacristy. Less easy to take photos with the family…