Ancient church is part of history

3

THE ancient church of St Oswald at Winwick is one of the most historic in the Warrington area.
It is believed the church is built on the site of an ancient Druidical altar and pre-Christian temple. Excavations beneath the Chancel in 1828, when three large skeletons were said to have been discovered, lend credence to this.
The name Winwick may be a corruption of Caer Gwentquic, an ancient British name.
St Oswald, King of Northumbria from 634 to 642, converted his kingdom to Christianity but was killed in battle fighting the heathen King Penda, of Mercia.
He is reputed to have died near the site of the church, although Oswestry makes a similar claim. However, there is a well, known as “St. Oswald’s well” a mile from the church.
On a window-cill there is the cross arm of a Saxon preaching Cross, dating from around 750AD, which is believed to have stood until broken, probably by Cromwell’s soldiers during the Civil War.
The church has carvings said to illustrate the martyrdom of Oswald and a priest carrying water from St Oswald’s well.
One famous carving in on the exterior of the west wall of the tower and is of “The Winwick Pig.”
According to legend, a pig moved the stones for the building of the church to its present place on the hill, all the time crying “Win – ick”!
But it is more likely that the carving is linked to St Anthony of Egypt, whose symbol was a pig.
The present building is said to date from 1358, although the Legh chapel is older. The Bell Tower, containing a peal of six bells, dated 1711 in addition to the old Sanctus Bell. The clock was added in 1876.


3 Comments
Share.

About Author

Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.

3 Comments

  1. Funny how lost memories are sometimes jolted back to life because having read this I recall as a small child always being told to look out for the “pig on the wall” as we went past.

  2. I was told a story when i was a young girl THAT THE PIG MOVED THE STONE OVER THE ROAD AT NIGHT when everyone slept and the workmen stayed awake one night to see who was doing it and they saw the PIG rolling the stone over the road to the other side The pig did this several times SO THE CHURCH WAS BUILT WHERE IT IS TODAY

    The PIG WON.

Leave A Comment