Well, Ecclesiastical

The most ancient examples of Christian baptismal wells are to be found in the Catacombs. Wells occur in crypts, some of which were regarded as possessing waters of miraculous powers, as at Pierrefonds; but very possibly they were made in imitation of the baptismal wells of the Catacombs. There was usually a well or fountain in the centre of a cloister garth. There is one highly enriched in the south nave aisle of Strasburg. Probably these wells, as in cathedrals, served to drain water and supply the baptismal font, as in St. Patrick's, Dublin, and at York, Carlisle, Glasgow, and Winchester. In many of the small Cornish oratories or baptisteries there is a well. St. Keyne's Well, in Cornwall, was an object of frequent visits, as was St. Winifred's, in North Wales, which was built in 1495, and contains a star-shaped basin, formerly surrounded with stone screens and contained within a vaulted ambulatory under an upper chapel. Wells are found also in many of the ancient Cornish churches of the 5th and 7th centuries, at Marden, Kirk Newton, and Durham. Joubert's Well at Poitiers is a good mediaeval specimen. At Ratisbon, in the south wing of the transept, there is a well with figures of the Saviour and the woman of Samaria. There is also an ancient well in the cloister of Arles. St. Aldhelm's Well at Shepton Mallet, St. Chad's at Lichfield, St. Julien's at Wellow, Somerset, St. Thomas's at Canterbury, and numerous others in Wales are still regarded as possessing medicinal virtues. Throughout all Christendom such wells exist, and rules concerning them have been made from time to time by canonical decrees, because of abuses which arose in past ages. They were forbidden to be worshipped without the bishop's authority in 960, 1018, and 1102. In 950 they were made sanctuaries. Round them were frithgeards, for sanctuary, which were reputed holy ground. They were determined as holy by the diocesan, by canons passed in 960 and 1102, and abuses were condemned by the Synod of Winchester in 1308. See Lee, Gloss. of Liturg. and Eccles. Terms, s.v.; Walcott, Sacred Archaeol. s.v.