Login   |   Register   |   
Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Photo-a-Day Archive
Photo-a-Day Archive

Photo-a-Day  (Wednesday, 12th August, 2020)

St James with St Thomas, Poolstock


St James with St Thomas, Poolstock
The church recently had some work on the clock completed so that it now keeps perfect time again and the four faces are are now illuminated at night once again. Apparently, the original gas lighting pipes that originally illuminated the four clock faces are still in place (but redundant of course). This image was taken at dusk to show the illuminated South face from the Eckersley Gardens.

Photo: Andrew Fishburn  (Canon EOS 5D)
Views: 2,246

Comment by: Alan (on Vancouver Island) on 12th August 2020 at 00:15

Thank you for that lovely photo.
My parents were married in that church in the early 1930's and their ashes are buried in the Garden of Remembrance.
Because of my age (84) and the Covid pandemic restrictions, I am unlikely to ever visit the church again. So sad. Thank you for helping my memory, Andrew.

Comment by: Arthur on 12th August 2020 at 04:52

The clock at st Peter's Hindley had some restoration work done on the four faced clock some months ago, the clock now is never the right time .

Comment by: Mick on 12th August 2020 at 06:42

Very interesting Andrew.
The lady vicar once let me go up to the tower, I was looking for a old mirror carved by Mayors boatyard which had a canal boat on it, it was still there.
I also saw a old book that had been signed by groups of visiting bell ringers from other churches

Comment by: Veronica on 12th August 2020 at 08:49

I love old churches, beautiful inside and outside. At their best against the skyline .
Good photo.

Comment by: Gary on 12th August 2020 at 09:03

A well composed photo.
In the early 60s this was one of the popular churches for weddings in the old Wigan Observer columns. It was far from alone. I seem to recall the exotically named Mount Zion Methodist Church.
Wedding "days" today are hugely expensive affairs in "venues" - usually converted manor houses or purpose built constructions. Prices are eye-watering.
It is possible (or was) to have the ceremony under water, with snorkels, in Florida.
A very fine photo Andrew.

Comment by: Rev David Long on 12th August 2020 at 09:07

Good to see the clock illuminated again. It is the church's WW1 Memorial - accompanied by a marble tablet bearing the names of the fallen, and a bronze plaque recording the dedication, which are on the North wall of the nave.
Inside the tower is another, quite rare, memorial - to Gunner J Ainsworth - which was erected in his memory by fellow bell ringers.
I expect the clock repairers had to contend with a few tons of pigeon droppings up there....

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 12th August 2020 at 10:20

Nice post, Mick.

Comment by: irene roberts on 12th August 2020 at 14:12

That's lovely. I am not a church-goer, I admit, but I love churches. This looks lovely in the dusk and I always think churches look lovely in Spring, too, when there are daffodils in the grounds. A very pleasing photo.

Comment by: Beryl on 12th August 2020 at 16:01

Stunning picture of this church

Comment by: Dave (Oy) on 12th August 2020 at 17:49

Nice one mate - long time no see - good to see you're in action!

Comment by: Dave on 12th August 2020 at 18:02

Worked on the copper roofing on the clock tower in the early sixties also on the side transept that was also copper unusual because most churches are lead.

Comment by: Edna on 12th August 2020 at 18:17

Beautiful church this,the clock looks lovely little up.Thank you for photo Andrew.

Comment by: James Hanson on 12th August 2020 at 19:22

Mick, that church doesn't have a vicar, it has a parish priest.

Comment by: Mick on 12th August 2020 at 22:17

Vicar, Parish Priest. they all look the same to me, all I know she was a woman

Comment by: Veronica on 13th August 2020 at 01:58

If she was a woman it wouldn't have been a Parish Priest...a vicar yes.

Comment by: Rev David Long on 13th August 2020 at 09:21

In the Church of England the title of Vicar (and Rector) describes the post which a priest holds as the Incumbent of a Parish. Incumbents have legal title to the 'Living' for as long as they hold the position - it used to be for life, until retirement ages came in, and there have been other employment status changes since which alter the terms of tenure. The last Incumbent, or Vicar, of St James with St Thomas was indeed a woman.
When Parishes are undergoing changes to boundaries, or being linked with other Parishes, the Living would be suspended when a Vicar left - and a Priest-in-Charge would be appointed. This has been the process in Wigan whilst fundamental organisational changes have been taking place.
Whatever the status - Vicar/ Rector, or Priest-in-Charge - they are all Parish Priests - and the terms obviously apply equally to women and men.

Comment by: Mick on 13th August 2020 at 14:48

Thanks for clearing that up Rev. I hope I can remember it all if that question comes up on Who Want to be a Millionaire

Comment by: Veronica on 13th August 2020 at 17:41

But not in the Catholic Church Reverend as you more than likely know. Way behind everybody else. .i can't see it changing although they are allowed to do a Eucharistic Service on the priest's day off.

Comment by: George (Hindley) on 13th August 2020 at 17:54

I believe St James'church has joined St Pauls in creating a larger area with one priest covering both, or more?

Comment by: James Hanson on 13th August 2020 at 20:39

George, are you sure? Because St. Pauls, in Goose Green, is Evangelical (which is protestantism) and St. James, Poolstock, is Catholic (Anglican, not Roman).
That said, they are both C of E although of different variation.

Comment by: John Noakes on 14th August 2020 at 20:55

I'm sure St. James, Poolstock, is a protestant church but I could be wrong.

Comment by: James Hanson on 15th August 2020 at 18:00

You are wrong John (Get down Shep)

Comment by: John Noakes on 15th August 2020 at 19:29

James, I wish I had a pound for every time someone has said that to me.

Leave a comment?

* Enter the 5 digit code to the right of the input box. Don't worry if you make a mistake, you will get another chance. Your comments won't be lost.