Eccles. so much to answer for... Eccles Cakes, Protector Lamps, A.V Roe, Eccles Cross, Paxo Stuffing (it's true, John Crampton in 1901) but for me it's the fabulous Eccles Parish Church, St Mary the Virgin which has stood on this site for over 800 years. Whenever I am passing or more to the point when it's open (Thursday morning and Sunday morning) I often call in for a look around, it really is a fantastic church with such a rich history, so many local people have been married there, baptised there or the other.... I called in today to take some snaps and was pleased to see that they are getting the church ready for the Remembrance Sunday service, with poppies decorating the font and aisles, also the RAF stained glass window has poppy wreaths laid at the base, quite moving really. I am a sucker for stained glass windows. not sure if the one's in this church are by Charles Eamer Kempe but they are wonderful to look at, so take the time to look at them and notice the craftsmanship that has gone into them. Check out our Gallery with many more images below Also the Mayo windows as they are called these were a gift from the two son's of Dr William Worrell Mayo who was baptised in this church in 1819. his family moved to America and so the Mayo Clinic was formed. these windows dating from 1929 are by Francis Howard Spear who was an English stained glass artist and lithographer. An outstanding feature inside the church is the "monument of Richard Brereton and his wife which was erected by the latter in 1600 the man being in armour with helmet by his side and the lady in a ruff and with an enormous headdress, there is a figure of a child on the side of the tomb. Yes I had to google that information about the tomb, but please take a look at it, a thing of beauty. If you are planning a trip to view the church as I stated earlier it's only open on a Thursday morning at 10.30am for a Communion service but you can get refreshments in the Bridgewater Room until 1pm. with a Sunday service at 11.15am. That is my potted history of the church and the treasures inside. so what are you waiting for, call in for a mooch and a brew an ideal way to spend an hour in Eccles... just make sure it's a Thursday though.
