George Thomas Orlando Bridgeman

“ In studying the materials for the compilation of these parochial annals, I find that the ancient manorial rights and privileges of the rectors have ever been a fruitful source of litigation between them and their people, insomuch that the inhabitants of Wigan from time to time seem to have inherited a traditionary feeling that it was their duty as citizens to resist and curtail these rights to the best of their power, in which indeed they generally succeeded, as will be shewn in the following pages. ”

“ The lives of such men cast an historical interest over the church of Wigan with which they were connected, though its spiritual interests were probably better cared for by rectors of less celebrity.
In early times the whole township of Wigan belonged entirely to the parson, and probably a large part of it was forest. In the course of time, however, the lands were gradually let to tenants in fee, who reclaimed them, and paid what was then a fair proportion of rent to the lord of the soil, to whom also they owed suit and service. ”

“ As the feudal system declined — having done its work in making Englishmen the best soldiers in the world — and as the wealth and power of the burgesses and people increased, the rights and perquisites of the lords of the manor became gradually less and less, until the last figment of secular authority was done away with by the late rector, who, with the patron's consent, made over to the Mayor and Corporation the tolls of the markets and fairs shortly before his resignation of the benefice. ”