Photo-a-Day  (Thursday, 3rd October, 2024)

I remember St. Mary's church, although I attended St. Johns down the hill a bit. Mind you I never thought St. Mary's was Catholic.

Tesco Express or drive through KFC, you could get a price of chicken and a coke at the end of a service instead of communion. That would get the parishioners back.

To think this was the original ‘ Mother’ church of St Patrick’s which was built as a chapel of ease for the huge numbers of Irish people that came across from Ireland. It will be a sad day if or when it closes. I came here many times during my lifetime.

You certainly know how to 'stoke the fire' WN6!
Your irreverence is astounding. The closure of churches is a very sad state of affairs, especially such a beautiful place of worship as St Mary's.

Much prefer the lovely St.Mary's Church to St.John's.

Weird comment about not thinking St.Mary's was Catholic??? It has always had a warm,homely feel to me.

It’s a sad fact that churches are closing whilst Mosques are flourishing.

A good friend of mine in Wigan whose Facebook I follow posted a picture today . I don’t think it was today but it said today . It was a picture of a religious march in Birmingham celebrating the birth of their prophet.
Our churches close , are walking days are over and we watch our identity go with it !
In a month we will celebrate Guy Fawkes night and send our rockets into the darkness whilst the rockets in the Middle East are already being fired !
People who will never live in peace are leaving and taking with them their culture and their grievances to places like here. Many will have the vote and hold onto ideologies like Sharia Law but of course if you mention it what are you ? Did our men and women die for Sharia Law?

I saw that march ..there wasn’t a policeman in site. You only see these type of things on ytube. As usual women were covered from head to toe. Our Walking Days were stopped because of traffic problems. That mustn't be a problem for Muslims.

Colin it’s sad but true about all our churches that seem to be closing and Veronica took the words right out of my mouth about the mosque’s flourishing,should never have been allowed but far to late.(When in Rome comes to mind)

Abolish religion and the world will become a peaceful place.

Churches are no different to all the shops in Wigan. Use um or lose um.

Some interesting if controversial opinions today.
My interest is more in the buildings themselves and their part in the history and development of Wigan as a community over the centuries.
St Mary’s like many other building in Wigan is Grade ll Listed.
I am beginning to wonder though if this is a blessing or a curse as most appear to be half derelict with too much red tape to do anything with.

Don’t know what’s wrong with this country, since Brexit we got rid of tens of thousands of Europeans with similar cultures, religions and values and yet we allow over 1 million in with no common values or interest in what we stand for.

Disagree about the world being more peaceful.It is people,wanting more power and land who cause wars not religion.

How very true Alan P and drugs abolishing and job done bi reet then.

Sorry but religion doesn't cause wars I think you'll find peoples' greed for more causes war.

Do you mean more like Russia and China Alan P.? Mind you Russia has relented somewhat by letting the peasants worship in church to pray and light candles. But the church leaders have to agree with Putin though. I don’t think those countries are very peaceful or democratic sadly.

I understand your interest in the buildings Colin. They were built for a legitimate reason and that was for the worship and glorification of God. So what does it tell you when they are empty?. It’s like “a house that’s not a home when no one is living there”….to borrow the words of a song. They are just empty shells if they aren’t used. I agree with Jean and Julie it’s not Christian religion that causes wars…

Well said Veronica.

I got married in St Mary's in 1976