baptistery

In church architecture, a building or part of a church in which Christians perform the ceremony of baptism; also the pool used in Baptist churches for the total immersion of adults.

Modern baptisteries In modern Anglican churches, a bay or corner at the back of the church, near the entrance, is often reserved for the purposes of baptism. A font is normally used for the baptism of babies.

In modern Baptist churches, the baptistery is a sunken bath with steps descending into it. It lies at the front of the church, usually in front of the communion table, which holds the Bible; Baptist churches have communion tables instead of altars. The pool is covered when not in use.

Early baptisteries The most celebrated existing baptisteries are those of Rome, Ravenna, Florence, and Pisa, Italy. The most ancient is the baptistery of San Giovanni in Fonte, near the church of St John Lateran at Rome, commonly said to have been erected by Constantine the Great. The plan of this building is an octagon, with a small portico at the entrance; the interior is decorated with eight porphyry columns. The diameter of this structure is about 23 m/75 ft.

The baptistery of Florence, which is octangular, with a diameter of about 30 m/98 ft, stands opposite the principal entrance of the cathedral. The baptistery of Pisa, erected between the years 1152 and 1160 by Diotisalvi, is circular, with a diameter of 35.4 m/113 ft; the building is raised on three steps, and surmounted by a dome.