THE OLD - Old Wirral.com

Contents.
CHAPTER IV.
The Old Churchyards
of Wirral 61
Lychgates — Strange burial superstitions — Burial
in woollen— Sports in churchyards — Church ales
— Sundials in Wirral churchyards — Churchyard
crosses—Yew trees and their —The
significance
church —The porch Holy water stoup at Woodchurch.
CHAPTER V.
Wirral Church Dedications 82
Origin of the custom—Ancient dedicatory ritual
— Reasons for particular dedications— St. Bridget
— St. Bartholomew— St. Peter— St. Helen—
St. Mary—The Holy Cross—St. Nicholas—St.
Michael— St. Lawrence— St. Oswald— St. Andrew—
St. Hilary.
CHAPTER VI.
The Old Fonts of Wirral 101
Harsh treatment of ancient Fonts—The evolution
of the Rite of Baptism —The symbolism of
Fonts—The Norman Fonts of Wirral— Gothic
Fonts in Wirral—Font Covers, their origin and
use—The position of Fonts in Wirral churches.
CHAPTER VII.
Old Pews and Pulpits in Wirral
Churches 116
Rush bearing — Origin and evolution of pews —
Pew allocations— Churching pews —The old
pews of Shotwick— Minstrel galleries in
churches—The history of the pulpit — Sermons of
olden days — Three decker pulpits in Wirral.
xvi.