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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Photo-a-Day Archive
Photo-a-Day Archive

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

St Cath's - View from the top!


St Cath's - View from the top!
The new cross on top of St Cath's.

Photo: Rev David Long  (Sony SLT-A65V)
Views: 4,365

Comment by: Janice on 24th February 2013 at 00:05

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!

Comment by: Gina on 24th February 2013 at 00:10

My new home is down that street !

Comment by: Thomas(Tom)Walsh. on 24th February 2013 at 00:41

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 .

Comment by: Ellen on 24th February 2013 at 01:16

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.

Comment by: Ken R on 24th February 2013 at 02:24

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

Comment by: Lizzie down under on 24th February 2013 at 02:30

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

Comment by: Ernest Pyke on 24th February 2013 at 05:21

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?

Comment by: Mick on 24th February 2013 at 06:37

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 ?

Comment by: Scholes Malc on 24th February 2013 at 08:01

Cross?
looks more like a sluice gate

Comment by: kathpressey on 24th February 2013 at 09:21

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

Comment by: peterp on 24th February 2013 at 10:11

the crowning glory for the church

Comment by: Lizzie down under on 24th February 2013 at 11:00

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

Comment by: Nev on 24th February 2013 at 11:01

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

Comment by: Rev David Long on 24th February 2013 at 11:21

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.

Comment by: Barbara Taker on 24th February 2013 at 12:29

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

Comment by: Allan Gregory on 24th February 2013 at 12:48

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

Comment by: Ernest Pyke on 24th February 2013 at 13:10

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

Comment by: Ruth on 24th February 2013 at 14:22

Wow - that is some view. Well done.

Comment by: alan lad on 24th February 2013 at 15:11

Scholes Malc you are not wrong.

Comment by: Rev David Long on 24th February 2013 at 16:49

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.

Comment by: John Morris on 24th February 2013 at 17:14

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.

Comment by: Dave Marsh on 24th February 2013 at 18:26

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

Comment by: BILL on 24th February 2013 at 19:13

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

Comment by: Scholes Malc on 24th February 2013 at 22:01

'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

Comment by: Liam Booth on 25th February 2013 at 19:38

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.

Comment by: nadine foy nee sharp on 3rd March 2013 at 00:47

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

Comment by: Rev David Long on 7th March 2013 at 08:48

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.

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