Wigan Album

Allan. How have you identified these individuals? Are the names you have, written on the photograph? If so then I cannot believe the quality of the photograph considering the date of the event. On Thursday 6 July 1893 the new church of St.Thomas Ashton was consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Liverpool Dr.John Charles Ryle. The ceremony of consecration was fixed for 3.00pm. The scholars of the Parish schools walked in procession through the main streets of the township, led by the brass band. They were joined by the scholars of St.Lukes and the combined procession then returned to the church in time for the ceremony. "Several banners and bannerettes were conspicuous in the procession, whilst in the vicinity of the church, garlands of varicoloured streamers stretched across the road" The church tower seems to be just visible on the middle right edge of the photograph. As the Coop. building did not exist then, it may be possibly be Bryn St or Heath Rd. but the Tram Pole on the right would surely discount these.
Dr.Ryle died in June 1900. If this is the event then the quality of the photograph for 1893 is astonishing!