THE OLD - Old Wirral.com

THE OLD CHURCHES OF WIRRAL
storms, a belief referred to in the " Golden
Legend." Bells were also supposed to
drive away evil spirits, both of disease and
moral offences. It is therefore no matter
of surprise that we have records of bells
being rung in times of storm and tempest,
but the frequency with which churches
have been struck by lightning or blown
down by gales would appear to discredit
this superstition. Thus Heswall church,
Stanlaw Abbey, and Wallasey church
tower were all destroyed by lightning,
storm, or fire, though in the first case, the
actual tower escaped.
Protection of the spire and the bells
from lightning is now secured by means
of a conducting rod, usually of copper,
but the mediaeval builder employed a
different method. In 1315 a new cross,
well gilt, was set on the top of the spire
of Old St. Paul's, London, with great and
solemn procession, by Gilbert de Segrave,
Bishop of London, and relics of saints
were placed in it,
*' in order that the
omnipotent God and the glorious merits
of His saints, whose relics are contained
within the pommel of the cross, might
deign to protect it from danger of
storms." At Salisbury, while making
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