Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 2.djvu/271

450 eaten out with antiquity & weather as most of them were in danger of falling, & one of them did fall down directly over the Pulpit in the Quire about half an houre after the sermon which (had it fallen a little sooner ere the people had gone out of ye Church) would have slayne many men & women. He made new stone windows almost about all the Quire, & in other places of the Cathedral he put in new stanches of stone, as he did in the Pallace windowes, where he flored or planched 5: rooms with bords, & wainscotted & benched the two ..... windows in the stone Chamber, & made wainscot portals for the Abbot's Chamber (since termed the nursery), the chamber over the Chappell. He built also a new Coach House at the north east corner of his orchard (called the Kidcort), made the Bp's stables (almost all ruined before) with a new Chamber therein for the Groom to lodge in & all things needful for it."

The following extract from a letter addressed to Nathan Walworth, of Ringly-fold, by his friend Peter Seddon, of Prestolee, in the outwood of Pilkington, 14th December, 1634, describing the consecration of Ringley chapel by bishop Bridgeman a few days before, is of much interest as shewing the form then used at the consecration of churches: "Upon Monday the 7th of this instant Robt Seddon, Thomas Parr, John Walworth and I went to my Lo. to Lever, as we had done many a day before, and desyred that, for the encoragement of you and other well disposed, the nomination of the minister might be to you and whom you appointed; we used arguments to persuaid him to it, till certifying him that we did not know that you affected it, but tould him that seeing in all ages those that have been liberall and bountifull to pious account have been thought worthie to have the honour of them next God so we thought it was his part to grant, and ours to ask, the patronage to you in the consecration; but no further prevailed we but that you and the parson of Prestwich should joyn in the ellection during your life, and after the 3 parsons of Berry, Prestwich and Middleton; and further he tould us he would goe towards Chester upon friday and therefore must either come upon thursday or not at all untill Lent; well we, hoping of your good acceptance, agreed to him for thursday, made the indenture of bargin and sale readie, a copy where of you shall receive either now or by the first convenient messenger; Thursday being come proved