The Cathedral's Baptismal Font

The font is one of the oldest and most prized gifts to The Cathedral.  It was sent from England by Lady Franklin, widow of the Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin.  She spent several months in Hawai'i in 1861 as a guest of the Kingdom, and developed a sincere attachment to Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma.  In 1862, "in occasion of the baptism of the Prince of Hawaii," Lady Franklin chose a large square baptismal font carved from Caenstone, which she shipped out to Hawai'i but arrived too late.  Before the font or Bishop Staley reached Hawai'i, the only child of the King and Queen fell critically ill.  A brief baptismal service was held at his bedside, conducted by a Congregational minister, the Rev. Ephraim W. Clark, but using the Anglican service.  Proxies stood in as godmother for Queen Victoria and as godfather for the Prince of Wales.  A few days later, the Price of Hawai'i died.  He was only four years old.

As a symbol of baptism, when the child or adult enters the Church or begins their Christian life, the font is traditionally placed at the threshod or entrance of a church,  For nineteen years this font stood at the entrance to the old Pro-Cathedral.  In 1908 it was moved to the new Cathedral.

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​The carved font is supported by four variegated marble columns.  On its front face is a bas-relief representing the baptism of our Lord by St. John the Baptist.  The lid or cover is made of oak and brass and was the gift of Mrs. Russell D. Walbridge, the former Bernice Pauahi Parke, in memory of her son, and bears the inscription:  Dedicated to the use of St. Andrew's Cathedral Font, Honolulu, in loving memory of Russell Parke Walbridge, who was born to this life September 16, 1895, and who was born to the Life Eternal April 23, 1906: "Suffer little children to come unto me."

Dedicated to the use of St. Andrew's Cathedral Font, Honolulu,
in loving memory of Russell Parke Walbridge,
who was born to this life September 16, 1895,
and who was born to the Life Eternal April 23, 1906:
"Suffer little children to come unto me."

Mosaic Art - Easily overlooked by those entering the Cathedral are four lovely Art Deco mosaic or sectile tablets placed in the Narthex vestibules to the right and left of the font.  The mosaics are done in pastel colors depicting various biblical scenes, and are memorials to former members of the congregation.  

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