Wigan Album

Many thanks for posting - this is where my maternal great grandparents, James and Ann Gorrie, were married in 1873.

Another little gem with memories for so many,Jean.I remember when all the wall were painted sky blue and it looked really good,must have been a huge job for the painters.I believe this must be an extremely rare photograph.

I have taken out the creases ,Jean,and I will post it back on wiganworls for you to pick up...regards,Dave

I have put it on Forum,photos of Wigan,Jean.

Is this the one off Caroline Street?

Many thanks, Dave

I can't thank you enough Jean,all the memories come flooding back,conformation classes with just a few of us in the church and the Sunday services when we all "tried" to be saintly,the boiler house down at the back of the church, warming my hands on that radiator, and sadly, William Armour's funeral,I had forgotten what the inside of the church was like and now I can see it,it seems strange in some way.Also thanks Dave you made a good job of cleaning the photograph up.

As you rightly say,Harry,lots of memories for many people,some happy,some sad.My dad was Catholic but he enjoyed the visits from Rev.Gerard so much that he asked for his funeral to be held there.I rememer as a thirteen year old lad following the hearse down Caroline St..Wigan Corporation work men were digging a trench down the road and they all stood,heads bowed as we past.

I also remember the confirmation classes and 'trying' to be saintly.
Many people had cause to be grateful to Rev Gerard. I believe he moved to Bangor North Wales for his retirement and I hope he was very happy there. I also heard that during his lifetime he collected old bibles and had some very rare examples.

Jean,you just about make out the Eagle Lectern on the right.It was always highly polished and used to fascinate me.I believe eagles were used as they could 'soar to heaven'.Your photos take many of us back in time and somehow show that they really were the good old days.

Dave, I, too, was fascinated by the eagle lectern.
I also remember the stained glass window which depicted Holman Hunt's picture of 'The Light of the World.' I wonder what happened to all the stained glass and other contents of the church. I suspect it was auctioned off to the highest bidder.
I noticed that you were asking about the name of the bishop who confirmed us. I have no idea who it was but the Bishop of Liverpool, at the time, was Clifford Martin.

The actual date of our confirmation was 30th May 1954

I obtained one of the pews when the church was demolished. I made a fireplace surround from some of it and it is our kitchen as I write. The pews were made from pitch pine.

I wonder how many other Wiganers have a little part of St Thomas's at home.

All of us Jean,in our hearts.

So true, Dave.

Is this the one off Caroline Street, with the school at one side of it?

Yes it is, if you look on Photos of Wigan, album, schools there are more pictures of the church and school, also some of teachers and pupils from years ago.

As regards the stained-glass windows, four of them from the south side of the church, are in St Thomas' Chapel in St James, Poolstock Church. These are the Holman Hunt 'Light of the world', Mother's Union window 'Behold the Handmaiden of the Lord', 'Feeding of the Five Thousand' and 'Saint Thomas'. Lovely little Chapel with St Thomas' Communion Table, Mother's Union Banner and some of the original panelling.

Further to earlier comment, I'm happy to forward pictures of St Thomas' Church and the Chapel at St James',Poolstock, by e-mail. to anyone interested.(pwyat26@googlemail.com).