Wigan Album

It is wonderfully carved especially so the depictions of mining, but also the other parts of the screen too, I've been looking as to what the different depictions may or do mean, but haven't had any luck, I don't know what the three clover or shamrock like carvings and joined together in a circle in the screen are called, but they seem to have maybe a lamb or a lion lying astride the centre, maybe it's as St Patrick preached with the shamrock and explained about the Trinity, with the lamb or lion being Jesus. The grapevine perhaps as John says of Jesus being the vine, or maybe as being God's people as in Psalm 80. If anyone has ideas or knows what the depictions are please add your comments.

It looks like a lamb to me Cyril ( as in lamb to the slaughter) with the Paraclete (Holy Spirit) above. The Trinity was explained by the three in one with the three leaves of clover or Shamrock. I remember that from school. You explained the grapevine very well. When I enlarge the photo it’s a bit blurry. Also Matthew was one of the Apostles wasn’t he? Very interesting.

I can't see the lion/ lamb you mention, Cyril. The vine is symbolic of Jesus saying 'I am the true vine'; the shamrock-like carvings are called trefoils and are, as the shamrock in St Patrick's lore, symbolic of the Holy Trinity. A vine leaf is carved in their centres. The IHS on the left-hand shield on the arch are the initial letters, in Greek, of Jesus, Son (of God), Saviour. On the other side, the X and P are also Greek letters - Chi and Rho - the first two letters of Christ in Greek.

Thank you Veronica and David for your enlightening comments.

David, with a magnifier if you look at any of the centre hubs of the three trefoils, then at the top of the hub is a small carved animal - lamb or lion which is lying down with a front and rear leg hanging over.

Having the benefit of the original at full resolution, I can confirm that the design at the centre of the trefoils is a repeat of the vine leaf motif from the vines along the top.

Thanks David, you've cleared that up, images tend to distort through a magnifier and the branch had an appearance of an animal, though hats off to whoever did the carvings, they was a master of their craft.