Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/312

 Formerly there were many and various opinions as to the dedication of the church, Holy Trinity and All Saints having both been suggested, but the question is finally set at rest by a part, in fact the sole remnant, of the ancient communion service, the chalice, which is of silver gilt, and bears the inscription:—"The gift of Ann, Daughter to John Bamber, to ye Church of Allhallows, in Bispham; Delivered by John Corritt, 1704." Within the building, fastened to the east wall, and immediately to the right of the pulpit, are four monumental brasses inscribed as under:—

"Here lyes the body of John Veale, late of Whinney Heys, Esq., who dyed the 20th Jan., 1704, aged sixty."

"Here lyes the body of Susannah, wife of the late John Veale, Esq., of Whinney Heys, Esq., who departed this life the 20th of May, 1718, aged 67 years."

"Here lyes the body of Edward Veale, late of Whinney Heys, Esq., who departed this life the 11th of August, 1723, aged 43 years."

"Here lyes the body of Dorothy Veale, eldest daughter of John Veale, late of Whinney Heys, Esq., who departed this life the 9th day of January, in the year of our Lord, 1747, and in the 77th year of her age."

Beneath these tablets, the only ones in the church, was the family vault of the Veales, of Whinney Heys, now covered over by pews. During the year 1875 the nave was re-seated, and at the time when the flooring was taken up numerous skulls and bones were found in different parts of the building, barely covered with earth, plainly indicating that interments had once been very frequent within the walls, and causing us to wonder that no mural or other monuments, beyond those just given, are now visible, or, indeed, remembered by any of the old parishioners. None of the stones in the graveyard are of great antiquity, and the most interesting object on that score is a portion of an ancient stone cross, having the letters I.H.S. carved upon it, on the broken summit of which a sun-dial has been mounted. Tradition has long affirmed that Beatrice, or Bridget, the daughter of Oliver Cromwell, who espoused General Ireton, and after his death General Fleetwood, lies buried here, but this is a mistake, probably arising from the proximity of the Rossall family, having the same name as her second husband; the lady was interred at Stoke Newington on the 5th of September, 1681. There are no stained glass windows, and the walls of the church are whitewashed externally.