1 Welcome to the Parish Church of St. Wilfrid on the hill
This church was erected in 1180 after the Norman Conquest of England and had been called St Wilfrid’s on the hill until 1875. St Wilfrid’s was considered a Chapel of Ease from Prescot Parish Church which wasn’t as old as Farnworth but was larger in a larger town. A petition was made to Queen Victoria in 1875 to allow it to become a Parish in its own rite which was approved and from that day the church became known as St Luke’s Parish Church.
Prior to this a church had been on this site since 926 AD. This would have been of wooden structure probably in the style of a Long House. The area was under Viking control but some of them had converted to Christianity. In 926 AD King Athelstan had fought and defeated a large army consisting of Vikings, Scots and Irish and pushed them back to the Scottish Borders. He then took control of all the churches in the Ribble Vally and Lancashire and transferred them to the care of the Litchfield Diocese. We know that St Wilfrid’s was amongst those churches according to the records of Lichfield. If there was a church to transfer in 926 AD we can surmise that there must have been a church before that period which means the church is much older than 926 AD. But further evidence is in the depths of time which may eventually come to light.
2 South Entrance
Let us now enter the church through the South Entrance. As we enter the South Porch, which was added in the 14thC., it is believed by Christian worshipers that you enter the doors of the church through a belief in Christ. It was also used for some ceremonies i.e. Funerals ,Weddings and Catechising. The large Oak doors are the original ones and have stood valiantly throughout the Century’s protecting a sanctuary from the world.
3 Funeral Hatchment
On entering the church, to the left we see the Funeral Hatchment of Anna Maria Bold 1733—1813 Spes Mea Deo, ( my hope is in God Anna Maria was a great philanthropist and had a school built for the poor of the village, at the bottom of Church Street (now Farnworth Street.) This was in use up to the start of free education and was in contest with other schools which eventually forced the school to close. The building was sold as a Public House and is now called the Griffin, after the mythical creature which is the emblem of the Bold Family. There is a tablet over the door stating
A.
M. B
1814
All the Funeral Hatchments in the church whereof the Bold Family and where hung outside of the residence for a period of mourning then presented to the church.
4 South West Wall
In the South West Wall is the Stained Glass Window which is dedicated to William and Martha Kidd, in 1928. Christ is seen in Glory flanked by two Roman soldiers with the inscription, “ He that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live forever.”
5 Emily Wright Williams
As we turn to the East we see a memorial to Emily Wright Williams wife of the Vicar, which was unveiled in January1905. She had done so much work supporting the poor of the Parish and was highly respected by all. The window was erected by the Parish for her dedication to the Parish. The scene depicts Dorcas distributing alms to the poor.
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
6 Ferdinand Hurter
We now come to a memorial to Ferdinand Hurter, who was born in Schaffhausen, Switzerland,. He was a distinguished scientist who along with Vero Charles Driffield invented the standard speed of photographic plates and eventually was used on the SLR cameras. These H and D numbers have only recently ceased to exist due to the advent of digital Cameras . Hurter was the scientist for the Widnes Alkali company and his friend Driffield was the Works Manager. Early Photography was there hobby ands worked tirelessly to achieve their results.Neither men where recognised by the Royal Photographic Society until after their deaths when they where both awarded a medal for their work.
For further information please see leaflets
7 Cuerdley Chapel
You now enter the Cuerdley Chapel built by Bishop Willim Smythe in 1500 and was for the sole use for the people of Cuerdley . Smythe also bought land to provide a footpath for his tenants from Cuerdley to avoid going through the village during the plague times. Parts of Marsh Hall Pad still exist to this day.
Smythe was born in Peel House ( now covered by the Territorial Army Barracks) unfortunately this was demolished when the school and the barracks were built.
In 1507 Smythe started a grammar School to be built outside the church and went on to produce many fine scholars .It was one of the first boarding Grammar Schools in the country and he went on to found Brazenose College Oxford along with Sir Richards Sutton of Cheshire.
The stained glass window in Cuerdley is dedicated to Canon John Wright Williams who was the Vicar at Farnworth. He was responsible for the last great restorations in 1894/5. He was Vicar for 25 years and died on 6th May 1917.
Roof work in Cuerdley was carried out in 1894 with roof timbers being replaced and a new oak floor was inserted .
The organ was a gift and was given by The Vicars Warden Mr J Brock who was successful local business man who Hurter and Driffield both worked for. Previously the organ had been situated in the base of the Tower.
In the South East corner of the chapel you will see The old Oak Alms Shelf dated 1724. This was given by Mrs Jane Hayes with a yearly sum of £5-4sThis legacy was paid to a local baker to provide bread for the poor. This was distributed every Sunday after the service for the poor of Farnworth by the Church Wardens. Two thirds was given to the poor of Farnworth and Ditton and one third to the poorest of the congregation without reference to the district they may belong. This legacy is still intact although we now donate it to the Foodbank.
8 Chancel Steps
As we approach the Chancel steps we come to the Font which was originally in front of the tower and was moved to its current position to accommodate the toilet project, the Congregation can now see the whole of the Baptism Service. The bowl is lead lined and the babies where completely immersed in the Holy Water.
The rotating Lectern was gifted by Elizabeth Nell in 1894. To the left we have the Pulpit and it is here that the Vicar will preach his sermon in full view of the congregation. This replaces the old double Pulpit which for some reason was taken down in the 1895 Restoration. This was gifted by Mary Riding of Cronton in 1894.
9 Vicars stall
Prior to 1538, next to the Vicars stall was a Rood Screen, this enable the clergy to keep the congregation from entering the holy part of the church and allowed them to offer prayers with incense to illustrate the prayers rising to heaven, also they would be slightly perfumed to prevent the smell omitting from the congregation from there unwashed bodies from affecting the service.
During Confirmation the Celebrants would kneel on the steps to receive the Bishops Blessing before moving up to the Alter to receive Communion at the Alter rail. The rails came from the staircase of Bold Hall.
The large East Window was erected in memory of Tommas Moss Horsefall of Burley in Wharfedale. He and his family are buried in the Sanctuary.
The wooden alter was constructed from wood from the screen as was the marvellous carving behind the alter which was constructed much later from remaining wood from the Rood Screen and commemorates those from Farnworth who died in 1st WW
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10 Bold Family Chapel.
As we come down from the Alter we turn the right and enter the Bold Family Chapel.
Immediately to the right is the sham bookcase. This was actually in the library of Bold Hall which may have been used for illegal Roman Catholic services or just another door into a room no information is available but it does leave room for speculation.
A Large oak table stands on a raised step and this also came from Bold Hall,.
11 Statue of Aline
Behind the table is statue of Aline who was the daughter of Sir Henry Jervis White Jervis of Wexford in Ireland
Next to her in the corner is Sir Richard Bold and his wife Anna Legh daughter of Sir Peter Legh of Lymn dressed in the clothes of the Stuart period.
He inherited the Old Bold Hall which consisted of 31,000 acres from his uncle Sir Thomasa Bold
12 Princes Sapieha of Dereczym
We now come to the most exquisite piece of sculpture which depicts the death bed scene of Princes Sapieha of Dereczym in the Duchy of Lithuania, She was the daughter of Peter Patten Bold who you see opposite and was married to Prince Eustace of Lithuania, ‘ It was carved by the Italian sculpture. Tenerain. Unfortunately she died two years after marrying the Prince from T B which was rife in the country at that time.
13 Peter Patten Bold
As we leave the Bold Chapel on the left is the memorial the Peter Patten Bold who died 17th October 1819. He was the last male heir in the family. his memorial was carved by the English sculpture Chantrey. He lived in the large house in Warrington behind a very large pair of gates, now the Town Hall.
14 Sir John de Bold
On the right is the effigy of Sir John de Bold who successfully defeated Owen Glendower when he attacked Caernarvon Castle in 1402 and for his success in repelling Glendower he was rewarded for his bravery.
His son Thomas accompanied Henry V at Agincourt in France 1407 and was also rewarded for his bravery. Sir William De Harrington who carried the Henry V Standard at Agincourt and was given the position of Seneschal ( Senior Steward) of Halton Castle on his return.
15 Bold Family Crypt
As you leave the Chapel you will see a metal door in floor beneath which is a spiral staircase leading to the Bold Family Crypt. There are 24 shelves and 14 coffins all lead lined in various stages of decay. All descendants of the Funeral Hatchments hanging on the walls of the Nave are to be found in the Crypt.
Coffins had to be lowered through the floor before being placed on the shelves.
One last thing to note was that Anna Maria Bold was buried at midnight by flaming torchlight, This was a custom of the Catholic Aristocracy in earlier times.
Princess Diana was also interred this way up to the Mausoleum on her Family Estate.
16 Old box pews
The old box pews that were in the church where dismantled in 1895 had the doors placed around the walls as a dado all of which still have the names of the congregation who rented them for 5 shillings a year, carved on them with dates.
17 Samual and Eliza Kidd
The first stained glass window on the north wall depicts
Truth, Knowledge and Purity and was given in memory of Samual and Eliza Kidd in 1928.
18 Book of Danial
The second, and is possibly the most valuable, illustrates the book of Danial, chapter 3 verses 20—30
Shadrach, Meschach and Abenigo in the fiery furnace
This was presented in1875 in memory of Arthur Fields C E by his mother. It was designed by Byrne Jones who was a designer for the William Morris Company
19 Peal of six bells
A peal of six bells was installed in the 18th C. and it is amazing how long they have stood up to their constant use until 1880 when a crack was found in the tenor bell and was sent of repair to John Taylor’s bell foundry in Loughborough.
In 1956 it was decided to replace the whole peal of six bells and was arranged with Taylors Bell Foundry in Loughborough to re caste the new bells. A party from church went by coach to watch the re casting. The service to re- hallow the bells was in September1956 conducted by the Bishop of Liverpool. Herbert Jones.
The cost of the bells was borne by the congregation of 1.000 paying
1 /_shilling per week for a year. At the end surplus of £1`.649 was placed in the Fabric Fund.
We hope you have enjoyed your tour of this outstanding example of a Medieval church, should you have any questions please ask the staff or take some of the free leaflets for more information.
If your visit has made you sit and think, may it do so in church.