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.