Wigan Album

There must be some history behind an owl carving....anyone know ?
We visited an ancient church not far where we live that is cared for by a charity for churches that are no longer used.
On one of the pew ends there was a rough carving of an elephant. I wonder where the carver had seen an elephant in the wilds of Norfolk !
Looks like this owl had caught his supper.

This is the crest of the Standish family.

R.S.
Presumably Ralph Standish . The rat is shown here in prone position so dating the carving to pre 1715 , when R.S. was involved with the Jacobite rebellion .
Subsequently pardoned , the rat was then always shown supine demonstrating Ralph's contrition and allegiance to the Hanover monarchy.

Thanks for the explanation Poet.

I think this owl was installed in about 1590 by Edward Standish when he had the Standish Chapel built. His father was Ralph Standish V11, so he could be the RS. I read also there is a similar carving on one of the roof beams.

I would say St Wilfred's the one of the most historic if not thee most historic church in the Wigan area after All Saints, Wigan dating back 800 years. Occasionally they do guided tours and let you have a go at bell ringing!
Wish I could win the lottery and pay for the stonework of the entire building cleaned, the steeple is still covered in industrial grime which is such a pity as it is well floodlit at night.

Colin - St Wilfrid's is the only Grade 1 Listed building in Wigan Borough. Apart from its 1867 spire, it is largely as it was when rebuilt in 1582-89, whereas All Saints was largely rebuilt in the 19th century (apart from its tower).
Having just produced a Calendar in aid of the current Appeal to repair the spire, which features a number of images of it, I think I can say you're mistaken about the spire being covered in industrial grime - it's pointed section is yellow with lichen, and the rest is quite clean. The local gritstone it is made of is naturally dull - especially when compared with the red sandstone of the Peace Gate - and even if the main body of the church looks as if it's sooty, I think it's the result of 440 years of aging, rather than industrial pollution. Again, the clean-looking gatehouse seems to indicate there's not been very much smokey pollution in the air up in Standish. As you'll often hear on the Antiques Roadshow - cleaning ancient objects detracts from, rather than adds to, their value.
BTW - you don't need to be a Lottery winner to buy the Calendar - it's £10 from the church or Standish Library....

I won £10 on the lottery last week so could afford to buy a calendar

Rev Long, many thanks for your knowledge and insight. I was aware that the spire was a more recent addition, I think the original fell or was blown down during a storm.
The Peace Gate as been cleaned a few times in the past and this summer was encased in scaffolding, I assume for essential repairs.
I see what you mean regarding 440 years of aging, when I look in the mirror after 75 years there is no lichen but I do think the church has aged better!
I did see something about fund raising for the repairs months back but nothing since and I live close by. I had assumed they had full funding from some source or another. Since Covid the the clock has not worked very well and is silent, I miss the chime on the quarter, half and hour, perhaps that's because of complaints of waking people up? Amply made up though with the bells tolling on a Sunday morning and bell ringing practice Tuesday evening.
I shall definitely pop around to the Library and purchase a calendar or two. Rev Andrew should promote this more, perhaps a large fund raising sign on Market Place.
PS Holy Trinity Church Horwich is also a magnificent building and dare I say, in need of cleaning!!!!!!!

The original spire was damaged by storms in 1814 and 1822 and was replaced by a spire which was considered stubby and unfitting. It may also not have protruded very far above the three-storey 'spite houses' built on the Market Place. It was replaced by the present tower and spire in 1867.
The clock's mechanism has been affected by the ingress of water from the faults in the spire, and the clock faces by deterioration to the metalwork and to the wooden frames they're set in - all amply illustrated in the Calendar....
As for funding the works (the cost seems to go up each time I ask about fund-raising progress) - the Parish had some reserves in their repair fund to jump-start the Appeal, but the main part is coming from individual donations... and folk buying my Calendar. I think these days advertising on Facebook etc is more effective than big signs seen by a few.

Rev Long, thanks for the additional information.
Apart from WW I do not engage in Social Media probably many of my generation don’t.
I am not decrying it, just think it’s for a younger generation who with regard to this particular subject have never been inside a church and probably have no interest.
That said and having a lifetime experience of promotion, advertising and sales I don’t think putting all one’s eggs in one basket is the best strategy.