Photo-a-Day  (Thursday, 1st February, 2024)

Thats a good image of a church that I know of....only through doing family history research with Lancashire Parish Clerks Online & looking at the records of the church that have been transcribed by their volunteers. Nice photo Dennis.

Lovely picture of the exterior Dennis.
Built in 1819 in competition with St Mary’s up the road it is built in a Classical Style constructed in sandstone.
I sent Brian a picture of the interior a week or so back, hope this gets uploaded to compliment yours.

Whenever I walked up Standishgate in the past, towards Wigan Lane, (for appointments at Wigan Infirmary), this church always caught my eye. These days, since getting older,if I have a hospital appointment, I go on the bus and you just notice things the same. It's nice to see it again.

Overlooked that St John’s along with St Mary’s are both Grade 2 listed along with St George’s which was built in 1781.
In 1819 there was no Powell Street or Greenough Street and the river Douglas took a slightly different course.

The monument in front is the Walmersley Monument dated 1852 and by Pugin. It is also Grade 2 listed along with St John’s Club behind the camera on the right.

The current Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nicholls, was an assistant priest here in his earlier days.
Grade 2 listing can be awkward in the event of necessary repairs - and expensive.

Sorry, my comment should have said you DON'T notice things the same when you are on the bus.

St John’s served the Convent. The priests were Jesuits ( Society of Jesus) in previous times. The choir too was one of the best in Wigan at one time. It was also thought to be one of the richer parishes.
The building on the right had a hall where I remember going as a five year old for ballet lessons with a Miss Fenn. There’s a great deal of history within the walls of the church. It is twinned these days with St Patrick’s and St William’s. The parish priest has his work cut out these days running 2 churches.

Looks very clean and tidy, it's a credit to St John's Priest and everyone concerned.

Interesting Gary. When was Vincent Nicholls assistant priest at St John's?

In the early 1970s Cardinal Nichols was a curate (assistant priest) at St Mary's, not St John's. He also acted as Chaplain to St John Rigby Sixth Form College in Orrell.

Just shoot me now .

Thanks for the clarification Michael, everyone tries to get there information correct but sometimes memories are clouded, including mine!
My favourite Priest at St John's was Father Kennedy but Father O'Shea is a lovely man, very friendly and welcoming.

Sorry Colin, Michael is correct. At this distance in time, got the two mixed up.

Lovely picture Dennis. I love the way the sunlight plays on the leaves and brings out the warm colour of the sandstone. Another fleeting "moment" captured. Thank you.

Ozy, would you rather be shot, or would you prefer to go out in a sheet of flame on top of your Aga?
Either way I hope you haven’t forgotten that you gave me first dibs on said shelter heater cum cooker ( I have already cleared a space for it )
Thanking you in anticipation.
DTease.

P.S I don’t wish to rush you but there is a big hole in my kitchen where my old cooker committed hari kari
over Christmas and I have been living on cold baked beans ever since.

Come home Mick your missed.

Always preferred St.Mary's to St.John's,it seems to have a more 'homely' feel to it somehow.Yes,St.John's was always known as a wealthy parish.

Colin, I remember Fr Kennedy at St John's. I was a little boy at the time. The parish priest was Dr (later Canon) Campbell and Fr Kennedy's fellow curate was Fr Bridges, as I recall. Fr Kennedy went on later to become Rector of the English College in Rome. He was outstandingly handsome as a young man and caused quite a flutter in many a female heart in the parish, I was told.

Syd (also known as Mick) YOUR spelling lets you down again!

This is a lovely church Dennis, thanks for the photo. My husband worked on this church, doing the lead work on the roof. He also did St Mary's as well.

I recently received an email from an African prince desperate to get 6 million U.S. dollars out of his country DTease and apparently , if I send him my bank details , he’ll deposit it into my account , and I get to keep half of it .
So you can collect the AGA any time that suits mate , as I’m off to live in a beach hut near Phuket with my new Thai girlfriend wot I met at the checkout in World of Woks Oswaldtwistle .

Ozy, what’s he doing with the other half and has your new Thai girlfriend got a sister who’s not too demanding, bearing in mind my advancing years?
P. S can you tell me how to pronounce the name of that place you said you are going to? As I got a clout round mi earhole when I tried it!

ITS NOT THE REAL SYD SMITH BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY SYD DIED LAST NOVEMBER.

There could be more than one person named Syd Smith.
Let's not get over excited.

May Syd Rest in Eternal Peace.
It’s always sad to hear of people passing on. He was a regular poster on WW.

You should know with all your name changing!
“more than one” indeed!
“ From where I’m sitting” etc….etc…etc. if you have to comment find a regular posting name.