Photo-a-Day  (Friday, 24th February, 2012)

What a wonderful picture! Amazing how perspective draws the eye into the picture, really very evocative.

An impressive photo.

A beautifuI Church I believe built on a French model.Venerated in this Church is the hand of St.,Edmund Arrowsmith ,one of the English Martyrs.At the side of the Church
There's a shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes.
A former parish priest,Canon Ripley,wrote a book," The Diary of a Small Town Priest",a good read,I'am told,but I must admit I haven't
read yet.

That is so beautiful. I wish I could visit and explore. Thank you for making it possible for me t see from afar.....usa

Great shot of a wonderful looking church. What vintage will it be. It seems to me that it has been made to look older than it really is

St Oswald's is perhaps the most beautiful and architecturally worthy Catholic church in Wigan and its surrounding areas. St John's, Standishgate, comes a close second, but only on account of its glorious interior (now partially despoiled by liturgical vandals): the exterior is box-like and unimpressive, apart from a rather pleasant neo-Classical façade.

What a fantastic photo. Beautiful church, wonderful ceiling. Thanks for posting.

ive got to say it that this is a really nice shot. it looks like andrew used a fish eye lens i could be wrong. nice one and not a animal in sight.

well done spot on ,perfect .

Not a living soul in the place.

Derek, the existing church was built in 1930 but there has been a church on that site since 1822 so maybe the design harks back to a previous building.

another quality shot andrew
well done lad

A wide angle, rather than fish eye lens Harry.

Mick, I was lucky enough to have the place to myself as my son was having an organ lesson there with their wonderful organist Carol Wareing!

Wounderful accoustic in there too!

This is the real Maggie. What a wonderful picture, so much beauty and promise. Thank you.

Superb shot Andrew. I don't know this church but itlooks well worth a visit.

You may think you are the real Maggie but you are not the only one - there were four others in my class at school.

I have read and have a copy of Canon Ripleys book... My youngest daughter was a really bad asthmatic when she was younger and was in the hospital for treatment almost every month.. On a visit back to England, she ended up in R.A.E.I. for three weeks. On coming out we took her to St Oswalds and Canon Ripley Blessed her with the 'Hand of St Edmund Arrowsmith'... That was about 28 years ago and she's never been in hospital since, she hasn't had any more Asthma attacks either.......

Beautiful picture of the Church....

I went to an organ recital there recently, given by Carol Wareing - fantastic playing, and she was given a standing ovation!

My great grandparents Edward and Mary Worswick are buried at St Oswalds. I've visited the graveyard a few times but never been inside the church; I'll need to rectify that.

Thank you Bradshaws Girl for the clarification on the vintage. I recently read Pillars of the earth. and I think I'm an expert on architecture.

For Derek,I read "The Pillars of the Earth some time ago- strangely enough,I'm re-reading the sequel, "World without end" I find its equally as good.

Thats a shock....a compliment from "dirty harry" I think he just likes to get us all going !!

My nan was the live in house keeper at St Oswalds Presbytery until her death in 1985. I have some fantastic memories of St Oswalds, spending many a happy Christmas and many a school summer holiday there with my nan. I remember sharing a leg of lamb with Canon Ripley and Father Johnson and going on to the roof of the church with Father Johnson, the statue on the front is over 9 feet high.

its a beautiful church,my sister took me once ,she told me about the hand and that it had healing powers,well as i have rheaumatoid arthrytis and raynauds syndrome amongs others i went,the church was sooo cold i couldnt stand it ,i went to touch the hand that was all withered in a globe i really wanted to beleive i could be cured or feel better ,after we all had to chant i dont know how many hail marys ,our fathers etc ,im'e sorry to say i found the whole thing weird i didnt like it,and needless to say im'e no better.