Photo-a-Day  (Monday, 10th March, 2025)

I hope this is not like St Catherine's at Scholes were a fortune was spent repairing it only to now face closure

Could be money wasted, St Catherine's Church in Scholes earmarked for closure. Church attendance is the real problem and each year gets less.

For those who remember the Christmas Tree photo from December 23, I am pleased to say that it was turned into a Christmas Card and according to the recent Parish Magazine it raised £141 toward the Spire Fund at last years Christmas Fair.
Lovely photo Mick of the work now underway.

Maybe Colin can add further History about the Church future.

This church is a lot older than St Catharines. It deserves to be maintained. Although St Catharine’s must be at least 200 years old.

Paul, you did ask for this, so here we go!
The church is first mentioned in 1205 but the vast extent of the ancient parish with its eleven townships (Adlington, Anderton, Charnock Richard, Coppull, Duxbury, Heath Charnock, Langtree, Shevington, Standish, Welch Whittle and Worthington) points to a very early foundation.
The Pilkington family of Lancashire have a long-standing connection to the church and mention is made in 1322 when Robert, heir of the Pilkington estates and his brother Adam in dispute with John De Dichfield and his brothers was agreed to be settled by the decision of Henry Le Walys, the Chaplain of Standish. The Rector of Standish was Roger Standish in 1477 and was in that year the last surviving trustee of the estates of Alexander Pilkington in Rivington and Mellor. He released the estates to the beneficiary being Roger Pilkington, who was Alexanders grandson on him attaining the age of majority. Roger Pilkington settled at Rivington where he made immediate improvements to Rivington Hall.
Of the three chantries inside the Church, the Chantry of the Blessed Virgin Mary was the earliest and was created in 1301, others were added later including the Altar of Our Lady, Chantry at the Altar of St. Nicholas and the Chantry of the Holy Cross otherwise known as the Rood Altar.
The chantry at the altar of St Nicholas founded 1478 in the north aisle recorded formerly by a brass plate with an inscription in Latin to the effect that Robert Pylkington had been custodian and chaplain of this chantry and gave to the chantry a yearly revenue of six marks. He died on 6 May 1498. James Nevore was chantry priest at the date of the Commissioners' Report, and the chantry was endowed with land in Rivington, Whittle, Adlington, and Heath Charnock. The lands held at Rivington were purchased from the crown in 1583 by Thurston Anderton and included Higher Knowle farm, Lower Knowle farm and Grut farm, once located opposite the entrance of the current Rivington and Blackrod High School.
The possession by the Crown was in consequence of the Abolition of Chantries Act 1547. An earlier record of 1574 recovering rents for the same properties to the benefit of the school suggests freehold and leasehold. It is likely the grant of the land dated to the time of the Pilkington endowment in 1478.
The present church is believed to have been rebuilt between 1582 and 1584 and designed by Lawrence Shipway. It is in a blended Gothic and Renaissance style.
The Tower and Spire are 19th Century Gothic constructed in grey/black ashlar which is a a cut or dressed stone, worked with a chisel to achieve a specific form typically rectangular in shape capable of requiring only very thin joints between blocks.
During the 20th century the Lancaster architects Austin and Paley carried out work on the church. In 1913–14 they added vestries at the east end of the church and in 1926 they built a gatehouse at the entrance to the churchyard The gatehouse is listed separately from the church at Grade II. The architects also supervised minor additions and repairs to the church in 1932 and 1939.
This is just a synopsis of a much more detailed history, so perhaps enough to satisfy and digest?
Okay, you can all stop yawning now!!

Born again Holy Spirit led vicars/ministers are crucially needed in these churches, particularly so those at risk of closing due to falling numbers of congregants, especially so that in considering the churches which are being led by born again vicars/ministers actually are, as the saying goes, 'packed to the rafters,' and with joyful, diligent congregations, and at every service too.

So sad, I will pray it stays open.

St William church on Ince Green Lane has/being converted in to housing apartments.
But who will be staying there, that's the problem.

No yawning Colin, thanks for that great information and history and of course your time, very much appreciated.

I advised the St Catherine's Church lot not to go ahead because of the low attendance that would only get lower, but they didn't take any notice of me.
I said that could knock down the spire and put on a flat roof.
It's the same with St Wilfrid's just knock the spire down to the clock level, it would save a fortune, and the the new tower roof could be opened to the public to take in the view.

Very interesting Colin. Thank you. The only time I been in St Wilfrid's was to a funeral. It's such a beautiful Church and I can honestly say that as soon as I walked in I felt so at peace, and as if I'd come home. I will never, ever forget that feeling.

That's lovely, Meg.

“ Religion was invented when the first con man met the first fool ” ——-
Mark Twain .

But that’s only Mark Twain’s opinion Ozy….as good as he is with his quotations.

Its about time it was done up, cant remember the last time that clock was right.