Grade II
Walmesley Monument in front of the Church of St John
Standishgate, Wigan
Description
Commemorative cross. Dated 1852 on base, said to be by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin (Pevsner). Commemorates Charles and Elizabeth Walmesley of Westwood House, Ince, Wigan.
Inscription reads:
FOR THE LOVE OF JESUS OUR BLESSED LADY AND ST. JOHN PRAY FOR THE SOULS OF CHARLES AND ELIZABETH WALMESLEY AND FOR THE GOOD ESTATE OF THEIR CHILDREN WHO IN MEMORY OF THEIR DEAR PARENTS HAVE ERECTED THIS CROSS 1852.
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The Cross is erected on the site of the old Chapel of St.John, built in 1785.
The Walmesley's of Westwood were a devout catholic family. Several members joined the Jesuits::-
Father Christopher Walmesley became Professor of Theology at Liege, Belgium. Father Henry Walmesley, who for a time was in charge of the Wigan Mission. Father Herman Walmesly became Rector of Stonyhurst.
In 1824, Chares Walmesley became President of the Catholic Benevolent Society along with several donations to supply the temporal needs of the sick. The cross was erected in his and his wife's memory.
Link to more St. John's parish history
Source: History of the Mission of the Society of Jesus in Wigan by Rev J.G. Macleod. (1900)
