Photo-a-Day  (Sunday, 24th February, 2013)

A good image Rev David, however, I am not sure about the cross! Neither am I sure about being up there to take the photo!

My new home is down that street !

Rev David ,Absolutely. fantastic. A veiw that one never expected to see. I was born and breed within the shadow of the steeple and never thought I would see such a panorama.
Thank you .

What a great view! It's good to see it finally nearing completion. Thanks, Rev.David, for keeping "us foreigners" living abroad up with the progress.

Nice shot is that Winter Hill in the bachground?? How did you get this shot Rev.pull rank???
Nearly completed.

How spectacular is that........this is definitely a photo for Lizzie's England album.....well done Rev David.....Cheers!!!

Wondered what was going to appear whilst scrolling down, Rev David. Am amazed that it was a photo taken by you. I wouldn`t go up there for all the tea in China, although I wish I physically could!.
Who designed this cross? It`s cetainly different than what Fred Dibnah put on top of spires! No doubt Fred could have made it.
Whereabouts is Haigh Hall?

I wonder who designed that, it looks very modern but I suppose if your looking at it from the ground you wont notice it so much.

Did you write your name on it Rev with a felt pen ?

Cross?
looks more like a sluice gate

my mum's funeral was there. lovely vicar. it's a good view of whelley from the top!

the crowning glory for the church

Rev David I think the circular part is either pertaining to the sun or the crown of thorns Christ wore during his crucifixion......?
Cheers!!!

Rev David, I hope you went through the H&S induction process, and issued a method statement and risk assessment!!

The cross was a bit of surprise when I reached the top - it was hidden from view by the scaffolding boards from below.
I was a bit nervous about going up myself, but the scaffolding narrows with the narrowing of the spire as you get higher, so the drop you can see immediately below you from each level is only about 10 foot, so not scary at all. It would have been a bit different a few days earlier when the strong winds were causing the scaffolding to sway quite considerably!
I had to wait for the winds to subside - and was lucky to get up there the morning the Architect visited to sign the job off, and the scaffolders began the dismantling.
No trouble getting permission to go up - but then you should see what I've cadged during my 40 years with a dog collar!
There are more pics to come - but Brian tells me he will be putting them in a separate section of the WW site.

i was born in scholefield lane and went to st catherines and i was married there in 1962

great photo born in Lorne street, many years ago, chrishened they in 1947 and went to school there before we moved to Norley Hall

Would like to know, Rev David, whereabouts is Haigh Hall relative to your photo?

Wow - that is some view. Well done.

Scholes Malc you are not wrong.

Ernest - Haigh Hall is just off to the left.
Scholes Malc and alan lad - no one will actually be able to see the cross close-up. It's made to be seen from a distance. It will then appear to be as if it is one or two pieces of steel bent to shape, and folk will probably start saying, 'How long will that flimsy structure withstand the weather up there?'. The foreman told me it is better founded than most such additions to spires, which have often been added as an afterthought. This is well anchored within the structure of the spire itself.

Nearer my God to Thee!! I get vertigo when I have my shoes re-soled. It is funny, when I saw this picture this morning I thought the cross looked a bit odd, but going into Southport today I saw a very similar cross that looked fine. "Distance lends enchantment to the view". A good shot that will probably never be repeated and therefore an important piece of history.

Sorry,but I prefer the plain Christian Cross without all the embellishment.Lovely view though.

I USED TO LIVE IN CATHERINE TERACE,,,,,

'Lucky' broo & sandhole used to be just to left
and Worthingtons who had chippy on Caunce Street used to live in last house on left near blue bin
‘Bobbys Houses’ on Caunce Road – I remember them being built

As a trainee building surveyor living within whelley wigan, it has been a delight to see the project run its course. Although a large single amount of money was required to fund the project it is well worth it. I think credit must be paid to the lead architect, anthony grimshaw and the contractor, mather and ellis who have done an outstanding job and when you see this image it puts into perspective how skilled and specialist the job was due to the height and weather conditions endured. It would be nice to see more photos of this construction project and is there a completion date for the entire church reopening.

i live straight facing the church we are lucky to have such a lovely view,must say though dont like the new cross prefer the old one

nadine - there was no 'old cross' - simply a pobble with the lightning conductor sticking above it - as you can see if you look back at my February 2012 pic.