THE OLD - Old Wirral.com

WIRRAL CHURCH DEDICATIONS
liberated, and immediately translated to a
mountain where St. Peter awaited them.
Meanwhile in the city the escape of the
prisoners was discovered, and lots were
cast to find the guilty person, who was to
be slain and eaten for food. But, instead
of the victim decided upon, his son and
daughter were substituted, and led off to
the place of execution where St. Andrew
met them, and by the exercise of prayer
prevented the sacrifice. The Apostle was
then denounced by the devil, arrested, and
put to torture, but the same night his
wounds were healed and the city inundated.
St. Andrew then escaped ; the
floods ceased, and the dead were restored
to life ;
the father of the two victims and
the executioner being swallowed up alive.
This outrageous legend came from the
imagination of one Leucius Charinus, but,
though it was declared heretical by Pope
Gelasius as early as the vth century, the
story had gripped Christendom and resulted
in the extraordinary popularity of
the saint as a protector of churches.
The figure of St. Andrew occupies a
niche on the north side of the altar at Bebington
church ; the niche is ancient, but
the statue is modern. It is of particular
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