It rained!

WillowTheWhisp · 25-06-2004, 17:33

Family Fun Day Sat 19th June 2004, St. James' church Accy. In the rain!

Then it came fine, then it rained, then it brightened up, then................

Doug · 25-06-2004, 21:54

Nice willow...What the forecast for next week.

ShortStuff · 25-06-2004, 22:34

Some rain, then some sun, then more rain.......probably!

WillowTheWhisp · 25-06-2004, 22:37

I was hoping for a bit of sunshine.

Doug · 25-06-2004, 23:04

Hoping to get home 3 or 4 times next week...please Keep me posted.

Acrylic-bob · 26-06-2004, 06:43

There are people still buried under there. I am horrified. Have people no respect for the dead at all ?

WillowTheWhisp · 26-06-2004, 16:01

There is now nothing to indicate where individual graves are apart from the few large monuments. All the other grave stones have been moved to make a pathway round the church. I presume this was approved of the the Church of England and that if anyone had any objections at the time they could have voiced them.

The "stalls" on this fun day were all run by churches. It wasn't a secular event.

It may well be that there are no living relatives of those buried there. What I find more disturbing is that one of the remaining monuments has been vandalised more than once - the one with the opheclide (sp?) on it.

Whilst we are on the subject - what do you read this date of birth as being? It was part of a "Treasure Hunt" quiz for the kids and the date we thought (and still think) it is was marked as wrong.

Acrylic-bob · 26-06-2004, 16:33

I read it as ' JUNE 16 1825'

Some of the remaining monuments in that churchyard are listed, though I am not sure what grade.

Whats an 'opheclide'? I'm curious.

Atarah · 26-06-2004, 17:09

Hi, an opheclide is a musical instrument

WillowTheWhisp · 26-06-2004, 17:12

An opheclide (or however you spell it) is a musical instrument. It's on top of the monument with a sort of cloth draped over it. I always used to wonder what it was when I went past as a child and then a teacher told me. Apparently someone in the grave used to play one.

That date does look like 1825 doesn't it, but if you look again it can also look like 1823. Beneath it there is a 5 which isn't the same shape. I'm now curious to know what the correct date is.

If you look where I've traced over the two numbers you'll maybe see what I mean.

Atarah · 26-06-2004, 17:27

The memorial in St James' Churchyard is to Adam Westwell, a prominent member of the Old Band which used to play in and around Accrington. It reads:

ADAM WESTWELL
Born June 15th, 1823
Died October 4th, 1859
Martha, his wife
Born 21st May, 1823
Died September 15th, 1881
Interred at Great Harwood

This monument was erected by the members and friends of the Accrington Brass Band in affectionate remembrance of ADAM WESTWELL, who for many years was a distinguished opheclide player in the above band. MDCCCLX

A few years ago the "statue" was taken down for safe keeping, eventually cleaned and put back.

Doug · 26-06-2004, 17:40

Accy History.....More please