Memorials

It is fitting that something should be recorded about the stained glass windows in the church. The three in the chancel illustrate events in the lives of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Divine, and were executed by Messrs. Lavers, Barraud and Westlake of London

 

The four windows in the south aisle, by Powell & Sons, London, were the gift of the late Sir W. H. Worsley-Taylor, Bart. , K. C.
Looking from East to West the subjects of the windows are as follows:

The Annunciation – In memory of Alice, the wife of James Worsley

The Visit of the Magi – In memory of James Worsley of the Laund in this Parish

The Presentation of Christ in the Temple – In memory of Hannah Bamford, wife of James Worsley

Jesus talking with the Doctors in the Temple – In memory of Margaret Pilling-Taylor

 

The two West windows are by A. O. Hemming of London

The Sower and the Reapers – In memory of Margaret Pilling-Taylor, the donor of this Church, erected by the Rev. I. Downham, vicar

Martha and Mary at the feet of Jesus – This window was placed by Mrs. and Miss Downham of the Vicarage, Baxenden, in memory of Betty Edwards-Taylor who provided the endowment of the Church

 

The five windows in the North aisle, looking from West to East, are by artist A. O. Hemming of London

The Ascension and Christ’s charge to St. Peter – In memory of Henry Todd, for 33 years Headmaster of Baxenden School

Christ stilling the Tempest and Christ raising Lazarus – In memory of Rev. Canon Isaac Downham, first Vicar of this Parish, and his wife, Sarah Downham, placed by parishioners and friends

Thomas doubting our Lord’s Resurrection and the Healing of the Leper – In memory of Thomas Edwin Barnes, of New Longton, and his son James Albert, who fell in France in the Great War. Also for James Maden, for 16 years a Warden of the Church, and of Betty, his wife, placed by Ellen Ann Barnes

Christ speaking to the Woman at the Well of Samaria and Christ blessing the Little Children – In memory of Riley Ormerod, one of the first two Wardens of this Church, and the first Choirmaster – placed by his sons James, George and Albert Edward

The Good Samaritan and the Raising of Jairus’ Daughter – In memory of Martha, the wife of Riley Ormerod

 

The brass plate above the choir stalls bears the following inscription:

“To the Honour and Glory of God”
IN MEMORIAN
John Pilling of Baxenden, Gentleman, who died on the 5th June 1837 and Janet his wife, who died 27th June 1802
These three East windows were erected as a humble offering to God in pious memory of the names the memorial plates bear by Margaret Pilling-Taylor of Moreton, Whalley

 

On the North wall of the chancel there is a brass tablet in memory of Ellen Pilling, Jenny Pilling and Ann Filling,
while on the South Wall opposite is one in memory of the Reverend Richard Edwards-Taylor of Moreton Hall, Vicar of Mytton, and his wife Betty

 

By the clergy vestry door is a small brass plate bearing the following inscription:

The communion rails were provided out of a bequest to the Church by the late Mrs. Frances Parker, formerly of Lane Ends Farm, Baxenden

 

A handsome mural tablet at the South-East end of the nave records the gratitude of Messrs. George Hargreaves & Co.
for the faithfulness and devoted services of the late George Smith, Colliery Manager, who was in the employ of the firm for 56 years

On the West wall is a brass tablet, erected by the Superintendents, teachers and scholars of the Sunday School, and parishioners,
in memory of John Clegg for services rendered to the Parish in the capacities of Sunday School teacher, apparitor and organist of the Church

On the North Side of the nave, beneath the memorial window erected to Henry Todd, is a brass tablet stating that the stained glass window was put in by public subscription, that he was for 33 years Headmaster of Baxenden School, and that his aim in life was to promote the intellectual and spiritual well-being of all who came within the scope of his influence

Also on the North side of the nave is a brass tablet adjacent to the memorial window to Canon and Mrs. Downham, recording that the window was erected by parishioners and friends as a token of gratitude for their earnest and devoted labours in the parish for 40 years. Also that they were strenuous workers for Home and Foreign Missions, and that they endeared themselves to all by their kindly dispositions and loving sympathy. It also enumerates the various offices held by Canon Downham outside the Parish

 

On the South wall there is a marble plaque:

“In Loving Memory of Thomas Roberts of Baxenden, who died 26th May 1928 aged 66 years, a Church Warden, Sidesman and Sunday School Teacher of this Church. These offices he faithfully fulfilled in the spirit of humility and love
Also of John Roberts, his brother, who died 27th January 1925, aged 58 years, for forty years a member of the Church Choir, also a Teacher and Secretary in the Sunday School. By his influence and example and christian character he endeared himself to many in the parish.”
“Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him”

 

There is also the Diocesan Jubilee plaque:

“Christ Our Light 1926-1976”

 

Also on the South wall there is a brass plaque dedicated to the memory of Derek Astin which reads:

“In Loving Memory of Derek Astin, Subpostmaster of Baxenden, aged 44 years, killed by Assailant while defending his family 6th September 1974”

 

The Credence table was given in loving memory of Ralph Henry Ratcliffe, Organist of this Church 1916-1941

 

The Book of Common Prayer used for Communion:

“To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of the families of Atkinson and Jackson” The Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Atkinson 1937

 

The Cross – “To the Glory of God and in Memory of John and Walter Ashworth

The Two Vases – One in Loving Memory of Aaron Illingworth died 2nd June 1937 and the second in Loving Memory of Alice Johnson, November 1937