Preston’s emblem featuring the lamb of God is everywhere you look in Preston, from cafes to restaurants to, of course Preston North End, but what does the emblem mean and who was the inspiration behind it?
The design
Preston’s city emblem is deeply rooted in its early Christian history and central to the emblem is the Paschal Lamb, a symbol connected with Christ and resurrection. This lamb is also the crest of St Wilfrid.
St Wilfrid is credited with bringing Christianity to Preston and overseeing its development. He became the city’s patron saint and until the Reformation Preston’s parish was dedicated to him. This close relationship explains why his personal symbol, the lamb, occupies such a prominent position on the city emblem. Rather than being a decorative motif, the lamb serves as a visual reminder of Preston’s origins as a Christian settlement shaped by Roman ecclesiastical tradition.
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Who was St Wilfrid?
St Wilfrid, born in 634 AD, was a prominent Monk, and later Bishop, in the Catholic church. Between 653 and 658 AD, he studied in Rome, where he learned about the Roman traditions and practices including their method of calculating Easter. This knowledge placed him at the heart of one of the most important religious debates in early medieval Britain, the Synod of Whitby.
He came, he saw, he convinced
In 664, Wilfrid, now the Bishop of Northumbria, was selected to represent the Roman position at the Synod of Whitby, also known as the Council of Whitby. The gathering, presided over by King Oswiu, was convened to decide whether the Church in Britain should follow the Celtic method of calculating Easter or adopt the Roman system.
Rome used a fixed method in which Easter fell on the first full moon after the spring equinox, whereas Celts used older lunar tables, this meant that sometimes Easter fell on the same day as Passover, which the Roman church didn’t allow. Ultimately, the decision favoured Roman customs, a victory that reinforced Wilfrid’s influence, aligned communities such as Preston more closely with Rome and demonstrated loyalty to the Pope.
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An influential figure
He was also known for enforcing the Benedictine rule rigorously and for attempting to eliminate what he described as ‘poisonous weeds planted by the Scots’, a phrase that reflects his hostility toward non-Roman Christian traditions. Wilfrid demonstrated ‘enthusiasm’ for building ‘extravagantly adorned churches’, believing that magnificence better honoured God. This was in contrast with Northumbrian bishops who preferred a sparse, Celtic style.
Additionally, alongside Benedict Biscop, Saint Wilfrid was also one of the first two pilgrims to travel to Rome, establishing a tradition of returning with religious artefacts to be displayed in churches. This practice further strengthened the cultural and spiritual links between English Christianity and Rome, reinforcing the Roman character that Wilfrid sought to impose.
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A controversial figure
Despite his prominence, St Wilfrid was a deeply divisive figure. His unwavering support for Roman practices often placed him in conflict with kings and rival church leaders, and these disputes led to periods of exile. One example was the souring of his relationship with King Oswiu’s successor Ecgfrith.
Wilfrid was close to Ecgfrith’s wife, Æthelthryth, who gave him additional land in Northumberland. She had confided in Wilfrid that she wanted to keep her virginity during her marriage, which he supported. The King attempted to bribe Wilfrid to encourage the Queen to abandon this vow, but Wilfrid refused. He was later banished from Northumbria by Ecgfrith in 678 and arrested in 680, although he was eventually freed, on the condition he didn’t return to Northumbria, and fled to Sussex.
He was later able to go to Ripon and live out his retirement in one of the first monasteries he founded. He died in 709 AD at the age of 75. He was later made a saint due to his advocacy for the Roman Church and a feast day, 12th October, was created in his honour.
Preston’s emblem is not just a decorative symbol, but a reminder of St Wilfrid’s influence on the town’s religious origins. The Paschal Lamb reflects his role in shaping Preston’s early Christian identity and his commitment to Roman tradition. Though controversial in his lifetime, Wilfrid’s legacy endures in a symbol that continues to link modern Preston to its earliest religious foundations.
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