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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Wigan Album

Billinge

13 Comments

St Mary's Church, Billinge - 1994.
St Mary's Church, Billinge - 1994.
Photo: Philip Gormley.
Views: 3,298
Item #: 30393
This photo, my second 'bash', when drawing a 'meaty' architectural subject for the first time, had been preceded by my misproportioned church building.
Several visits to the scene had been made during my second attempt, and the drawing was developed later, at home, in readiness for what was to become a completed watercolour painting.
Viewers may find this drawing's discrepencies i.e.' minor areas of perspective and my heavy-handed lines to be good reasons for them to 'look away now'.
And should they consider doing so then, perhaps, they might like to share my enjoyment of the following passage from the Rev. W.A. Wickham's Some Notes On Billinge, within which is his appealing and florid descriptions of Wigan's church bells, beforehand.

That far-away church was their parish church, to which their children had to be taken for baptism and their dead for burial.
Thither, also, they had to travel for all the other ordinances of the church.
Billinge was then part and parcel of the vast parish of Wigan, and then, as now, sometimes within the reach of the wind-borne sound of its beautiful bells.

Comment by: Veronica on 4th April 2018 at 14:02

Looks perfect to my eyes Philip and with pencil it's easily rubbed out till you get the result you're happy with!

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 4th April 2018 at 14:38

That's right Veronica: using an eraser can only mean that something has been understood, something learnt if you like.
Nice to have heard from you again.

Comment by: Bradshaws Girl on 4th April 2018 at 15:10

Looks fine to me . Lots going on in this drawing,very interesting. Pass this church quite often as I now live in St Helens(for my sins) but family still live in Wigan.

Comment by: DTease on 4th April 2018 at 15:23

"The wind-borne sound of its beautiful bells". That line deserves a poem written around it, Philip.

Comment by: Poet on 4th April 2018 at 16:34

Not loud, not loud, Pray what is that lovely sound,
That gently peals across the field
And echoes around the old churchyard?
It is music! Music to enchant my soul,
The bells doth toll like an ancient bard
Or Poet, with wind borne melody unfurled,
Calling to me from another world.

Comment by: Poet on 4th April 2018 at 17:59

Who's music for all eternity dwells,
In the wind borne sound of the beautiful bells.

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 4th April 2018 at 20:49

DTease. It looks as though Poet has won the race to embellish the Rev. Wickham's fine words, but I'm a little concerned about the mini-spate of ladders that has appeared on here, lately - you know how he's intrigued by them.

Comment by: Poet on 4th April 2018 at 21:52

Philip, I was merely hoping to be the warm up act before the main attraction. Best regards.

Comment by: DTease on 4th April 2018 at 21:56

It's a fine poem though, Philip. Perhaps those fine words "Rung" a bell with him!

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 4th April 2018 at 22:41

DTease. I wish that I had chosen my words better.
Poet's verse is indeed his own response to a scene not far removed from that described by the Rev. Wickham and, as you had immediately noticed, in no way was Poet attempting to enhance the said passage.
His best regards tell me that he hasn't fallen out with me ... I heave a sigh of relief.

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 5th April 2018 at 12:50

"On Wetlands."
My journey through that wetland's hush, on path of human tread
No more the sound of hungry mouths, the Gadwalls' partly fed.

A sudden 'click' disturbed their feed and came by Reed mace down
The shikar knew his prey had gone, then took my timely frown.

His easy grasp of something lost, my time for tactful whine
We had our say on this and that, then lauded Romney chime.

I took my leave on careful tread and thoughts of joy to come
My fireside read was sent by post, a work by London's Donne.

Comment by: Johnny on 8th April 2018 at 13:35

Brilliant detailed drawing Phil. Proportions just right.
This is the Roman Catholic church in Lower End with a junior school opposite?

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 8th April 2018 at 17:11

Thanks, John.
It's Birchley St Mary's R.C. Church, situated in the Chapel End area of Billinge.
The school that you refer to was situated about 100 yards away by the main road and, after a valiant stand by locals, was was replaced by housing. Birchley St Mary's R.C. Primary School now stands alongside its church.

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