BY JAMES BALME ON 5TH APRIL 2025As I travel around Cheshire I come across many places like Winwick with great stories to tell about their rich historical past.On my latest venture I’ve uncovered an amazing place that has seen activity from the Saxons and the Normans as well as being the place of a decisive battle fought here during the second English Civil War in 1648 and known by locals as the battle of Red Bank.Winwick in Warrington has a rich and varied history and legend has it that King Oswald of Northumbria had a palace at Woodhead in Winwick. King Oswald became Monarch in 633 AD but eight years later he was killed in battle and pieces of his body were distributed to various parts of his kingdom.In 1830 whilst digging new graves in the churchyard of St Oswald’s church at Winwick, dedicated to Oswald himself, workers unearthed a large Anglo-Saxon cross-head dated to 950 AD carved with stunning designs. This is one of the largest such cross-heads to be found in England. Unusually this had been used as a grave marker in 1721 and again in 1793 before being buried once again. Today the cross-head stands inside the church.The earliest parts of the church that remain today date back to 1330 and the Legh chapel dated from the same year is the final resting place for fourteen members of the Legh family who lived at Lyme Hall in Cheshire now owned by the National Trust. Within the chapel remain stunning marble carvings and monuments to the Legh family detailing the lives and sad passing of loved ones.But it was the second English Civil War that was to have a devastating impact on St Oswald’s and the area surrounding the church, for it was here that the battle of Winwick hill also referred to as the battle of Red Bank took place on land close to the church on 19th August 1648 and being historically significant as the very last battle of the English civil war. The Parliamentarian troops were successful in defeating the Royalist troops and many were held as prisoners inside the church before being taken away.But Winwick and St Oswald’s church was to play host to one more historical event in the late 19th century that became famous because of its link to one of the biggest maritime disasters ever to happen in British history. On the 13th of January 1887 a wedding was to take place here between Sarah Eleanor Pennington from Winwick and Captain Edward John Smith who was a British Naval Officer for the White Star Line. In 1912 Edward aged sixty-two was given the privilege of being handed the captaincy of the brand new White Star vessel Titanic. On the 10th April 1912 Edward set sail on the maiden voyage of Titanic, however in the early hours of the 12th April Titanic was to founder after striking an iceberg in the North Atlantic, the captain was to perish along with fifteen hundred poor souls.Today the marriage certificate of Sarah and Edward can still be seen within St Oswald’s church.My film, A Rich History of St Oswald’s Church shot at St Oswald’s church in Winwick can be viewed for free with many other local history films by visiting my channel, youtube.com/Tvpresenter4historyWarrington Worldwide 05/04/2025
St Oswald’s Church, in the village, will celebrate its Heritage Weekend on September 7 and 8 as the setting for a re-enactment on the Battle of Winwick fought on farm land bordering the church on 19th August in 1648 in which 1,000 Scottish soldiers were killed.The battle between invading Scottish troops and Oliver Cromwell’s army was an event of national significance in the English Civil War – a fact which is relatively little known. It was one of the two major battles fought in the north west, the other was at Preston only two days earlier, which resulted in the end of the war and a final defeat for the supporters of King Charles the 1st.The monarch was executed a few months later.The re-enactment event with the church as its setting, will demonstrate and shed new light on what life was like for the soldiers of the defeated Scottish army several thousands of whom fled in terror from the conflict to seek refuge at the church and in the town of Warrington.Members of the Battle of Winwick Society, dressed in authentic costume, will portray the life style and conditions endured by the Scottish troops. The Scottish army raised by the Duke of Hamilton, a supporter of the King, consisted of tough but untrained fighters “the Engagers” who had made the long march from Scotland to fight Cromwell’s troops at Preston. After their defeat the remaining exhausted Scottish forces then journeyed south via Wigan and the A49 road route with the aim of joining with the King’s troops stationed in North Wales.Their forces became divided however, when their mounted cavalry carried on to Warrington leaving the royalist foot soldiers to hold Cromwell’s forces back at Winwick. But on farmland three miles north of Warrington between Winwick and Newton, the foot soldiers met the might of Cromwell’s new model army.It had a strong mounted horse cavalry and well trained men. After several hours of fighting with pikes and muskets in terrible conditions during the afternoon - the fields and streams had been flooded by heavy rainfall throughout the summer – 1.000 of the Scots, many of them farmers and general labourers, were killed. The remaining Scots fled, calling out for mercy, to seek refuge at the church. There many of them were met by more of Cromwell’s troops and were killed. Approximately 1,500 men were taken captive and held as prisoners within the church.Philip LePinnet, a member of the Winwick Battle Society, said: "This battle was hugely significant in bringing the Civil War to end. By presenting the re-enactment we want to create an understanding of the importance of the battle and showcase what life was like for the Scottish soldiers engaged in battle and imprisoned at that time."We will also provide a perspective of the lives of Oliver Cromwell’s troops. We aim to give an insight to the rank and file of the common soldier and the civilians involved in the Civil wars.”He added that the significance and outcome of the conflict involving thousands of men fighting hand to hand with muskets and pikes, is not as well-known or recognised as some of the Civil War battles. While a good deal of material has been published on the Battle of Preston there is very little on Winwick.He quoted an excerpt from a letter which Cromwell wrote to his generals on the next day after the victory which reads: “Despite what we killed in the two great fights the one at Preston, the other at Warrington (the one at Warrington being Winwick)” The reference to Winwick demonstrated the fact that Oliver Cromwell made no differentation between the two battles and regarded them as equally significant.John Watkin, St Oswald’s church warden, said “Our church is iconic. Dating back to the 13th century it has played a huge part in village life and in the history of our country. The interior of the church was badly damaged by Cromwell’s troops and restored gradually in the following years. We are hoping to welcome many visitors on the Heritage Weekend days."The Battle of Winwick Society re-enactment will provide a window to step back through time with fascinating facts and enlightenment on the soldiers and civilians of that era. It will bring to life to yet another chapter in the history of Winwick Church.”Today the site of the battle, also known as the Battle of Red Bank, is recognised as the only battlefield from the English second Civil war which appears to survive in a good state of preservation. Historic England added it to their register of Historic Battlefields in 2018.Entry free is free to the event which takes place on Saturday, September 7 from 11am to 4pm with an introductory talk in church by Battle of Winwick Society at noon.On Sunday, between noon and 3pm.Refreshments will be available in the Parish Hall*Warrington Guardian August 2024
Children from Winwick CE Primary School welcomed the Bishop of Liverpool, Bishop John, when he attended a service at St Oswald’s historic church in the village on Monday.The morning service “A celebration of Christianity”, led by the Reverend Martin Cox, priest in charge pf St Oswald’s, is Bishop John’s first visit to the church since he began his public ministry in April 2023.More than 100 children attended the service in addition to members of the church congregation.There were hymns sung by the school choir and special readings of prayers and lessons by the pupils.Bishop John recalled his own childhood in India and the religious stories read to him by his parents during a question and answer session with Reverend Cox during the service. He was presented with an original piece of art work done by children at the school.He was also given a tour of the iconic church, whose existence was first recorded in the Domesday book in the year 1086, by Reverend Cox and John Watkin, church warden. Its Anglo Saxon origins over 1.000 years ago are carved in a stone cross within the building which would have stood beside the original wooden church site.Bishop John who performed a short assembly for the younger children at Winwick school in the early afternoon said how much he had enjoyed the visit and would look forward to making a return in the future.Reverend Cox who has accepted an invitation from the Bishop to serve as the Area Dean of Winwick Deanery in addition to his parish duties said: ” We have really looked forward to welcoming Bishop John to St. Oswald’s."The visit provided us with an opportunity to share some of the story of this historic parish church with him and to get to know Bishop John on a more personal level too.”*credit to Warrington Guardian - July 2024
THE music of a children’s choir from Uganda, is to ring out joyfully at St Oswald’s historic church, Winwick, on Sunday 16 June.The concert performance is to celebrate the work of Watoto, a Christian charity, which provides love and care in East Africa’s vulnerable communities.The visit is being hosted by Winwick Church and Christ Church Croft and the choir consists of Ugandan children who have been tragically orphaned at an early age in life. The choir is on a three months tour of Britain to promote songs from their album “Better Days –There is hope”, and raise awareness of Watoto’s work in providing love and care for abandoned and orphaned African children.The concert performance itself is vibrant and colourful like Africa itself and the children taking part will share their personal stories through emotional and heartwarming song and dance.Watoto children’s choirs have travelled extensively in recent years and have met the late Queen Elizabeth, performed for the president of the United States and visited almost every major parliament in the world.The rector of Winwick, the Reverend Martin Cox, said: “The children are being cared for by a Christian charity which seeks to provide them with love and care so that they can lead fulfilling lives. The choir is on tour in the UK to promote this work and seek supporters. The story they share through music is one of hope and joy and it is an enormous privilege to host the choir at St Oswald’s, Winwick.”Proceeds raised from the album and from donations will help Watoto continue to provide vulnerable children with an education, medical care, a safe place to call home and the love of a family.Watoto is a family made up of people from all over the world who are working together to ensure the forgotten have a place to belong. The organisation established a local church in Uganda in 1994 in a time of civil war. Since then the group has rescued thousands of orphaned and abandoned babies and children placing them in loving homes. It has equipped and empowered vulnerable women in their neighbourhoods and sent over 100 children’s choirs across six continents.Watoto children’s choir concert at St Oswald’s Church Winwick, 5 30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday 16th June. Admission free.*Warrington Worldwide 5/6/2024
