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WIGAN PARISH CHURCH |
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Home | About Us | Current News | Parish Directory | Services | History & Restoration | Photo Tour | Plan of the Church | Events in Pictures | Organisations | The Choir | The Mothers' Union | Junior Church | Scout Group | Bell Ringing | Fundraising | Flower Arranging | Stained Glass | Needlework | Related Links |
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To contact us: |
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Phone: 01942 244459 |
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TOP AWARD WON BY PARISH CHURCH
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It was great that Frank was there as he was behind the initial opening scheme started over 30 years ago. And this reward recognises the commitment many people have put in to ensure that church is kept open and stewarded on Saturdays from May to September. |
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Frank Layland and Kathy Joynt, two stalwarts of our Saturday Opening Church Stewards, accompanied the Rector to the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust Annual meeting and Awards Day. And out of the blue, when it came to the award for Heritage Projects, our church stewardship scheme received 1st prize of an attractive glass memento and a cheque for £100 |
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Song Recital by Alexandra Tiffin (Mezzo Soprano) and Mark Millington (Piano)
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The historic setting of Wigan Parish Church proved to be an atmospheric venue for the song recital given by Alexandra Tiffin mezzo-soprano and Mark Millington ,piano. For many of the audience this was their first visit to All Saints and their enjoyment of the event was twofold- an appreciative response to the quality of the music making coupled with admiration for the beauty and history of the church.
Alexandra and Mark had compiled a rewarding programme of songs and arias ranging from 18th century arie antiche, songs by Quilter and Elgar, operatic arias by Mozart, Rossini, Bizet and Saint Saens and popular songs by Ivor Novello and George Gershwin. All were enthusiastically received but it was the performance of Elgar’s Sea Pictures that drew the warmest applause, both musicians excelling in Elgar’s music. Noel Coward’s comic jewel “Chase me Charlie ! “ proved to be the ideal encore and duly brought the house down.
In thanking Alexandra and Mark for having provided a wonderful evening of music the Rector, Ray Hutchinson, spoke for the entire audience as their enthusiastic applause confirmed
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ABOVE: Pictured is one of the marble memorials In the Crawford Chapel that is to be cleaned and repaired |
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Work will soon begin on several projects around Wigan Parish Church thanks to the granting of £50,000 worth of Heritage Lottery cash. And parishioners and people of Wigan will be able to learn about the skills and processes that will be used as craftspeople give special talks along the way.
The grant will let the church council carry out repairs and conservation of memorials in its Crawford Chapel, to the chancel reredos (an ornamental screen) and a 15th century wooden carved altarpiece which for decades used to be in the rector's private chapel at Wigan Hall. Once restored this carved and painted artefact, brought in by former rector Rev Orlando Bridgeman in the 1850s, will be installed in the main church for the first time. |
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The project will also provide an opportunity for local folk to learn about the importance that Wigan Parish Church has to the history of Wigan. |
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All Saints Parish church was founded in the 12th century and rebuilt in the 1840s. Within it, the Crawford Chapel, also known as the Lady Chapel, was founded by Lady Bradshaigh of Haigh Hall, the heroin of the famous Mab's Cross legend. It contains two marble monuments in memory of members of the family.
The elaborate reredos behind the high altar was made when the church was rebuilt in 1847.
It was carved out of Caen stone by John Thomas, a sculptor of great repute who superintended the ornamental stone carving during the rebuilding of the Houses of Parliament.
All Saints is also custodian to the aforementioned altarpieces, possibly originating from Lubeck in Germany, which is of historical significance beyond Wigan and the church. But because of their present poor condition, they cannot be put on display. However, that will soon be changing. |
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Rector, Rev Ray Hutchinson, said: "This project will mean that these memorials, the beautiful carved reredos and the altarpiece, which are historical treasures, will be conserved and retained for future generations. "We are very pleased that the Heritage Lottery Fund and comparable funding from legacies and the parish has enabled this work to take place. Not only will we be able to conserve these important artefacts and improve an historic building, it will mean that part of the history of Wigan will be retained for the local community and enable people to not only see them but learn about the town's heritage."
The two-year project will start in early spring with the cleaning and repairs to the memorials in the Crawford Chapel which is the responsibility of a stone mason who will also attend to the reredos.
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But experts in woodwork and art will take responsibility for the altarpieces and the Monumental Brass Society is attending to the moving of a plaque in the floor of the Crawford Chapel to below the east window which it describes.
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The church will be open on Saturdays from May to September when there will be more information about the conservation.
Look out also for a dedicated web page about all the work progressing during the coming months, also details of extra days when the church will be open for visitors to meet and talk to those working on the monuments.
Any groups or schools who want to arrange a visit can do so by contacting Rev Ray Hutchinson on 01942244459. or email: info@wiganparishchurch.org |
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ABOVE: The brass plaque in the floor |
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RIGHT: One of the altar piece panels showing the carvings on one side and the paintings on the other |