One of the most iconic churches in the country, St. Oswald’s Church, Winwick, will open its doors to the public to celebrate its Heritage Weekend and over 1,000 years of history on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th of September.
With the aid of the Winwick Battle Society, it will step back in time to feature one of the most dramatic periods in its existence, its involvement in the English Civil war, with a re enactment of a major battle fought in the church itself and in the surrounding fields, on 19 August 1648. Members of the Society dressed as soldiers in Cromwell’s army will present the Civil war drill and demonstrate weaponry of the day. Members of Colonel Okey’s Manchester Regiment of dragoons from the Sealed Knot Society will fire muskets at various intervals during the event.
The battle of Winwick occurred when a large Scottish army, supporters of King Charles 1st, fled from a defeat at Preston several days before and marched south only to be met by the soldiers of Cromwell’s army in the fields by St Oswald’s Church at Winwick. In the furious fighting which followed 1,000 Scottish soldiers were killed and a further 1,500 men were captured and held prisoner in Winwick Church for some months. Others were captured and held prisoner in nearby Warrington. It was a significant and highly important victory for the Cromwellian army as it ended the Civil war and led only months later to the execution of King Charles the 1st.
Paul Wright, the Battle Society Chairman, said that the two days of the event will focus on the history of the church and the part it played during the battle and on the lives of the victorious Cromwellian soldiers –their dress, their weaponry, their training – to create a more in depth picture and a better understanding of the life and conditions of that time in history. During the course of the first day his two history talks will give details of the battle itself and the impact it made not only on the soldiers involved in the conflict, buts is effect on the local populations of Winwick and the nearby town of Warrington.
He will also talk about the life of the church rector at that time, the Reverend Charles Herne, a Presbyterian, whom Cromwell held in high regard and the research into background of Major John Cholmley, a Cromwellian soldier from Carlisle, who was killed in the battle and is buried in the church graveyard.
Visitors will be warmly welcomed at the opening of the weekend event by the Reverend Martin Cox, priest in charge of St Oswald’s Church and head of the Winwick Deanery.
A large collection of treasures and relics from the church’s past dating back to Saxon times will be on display. Refreshments will be available in the parish hall.
Opening times: Entry free. Saturday 13th September: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. History talks 11am and 2 pm Sunday 14th: 12 noon to 3 pm
