St James Weathervane

On top of the tower at St James’ Church in Gatley perches a splendid weathervane, shaped as a cockerel. He is a bit worse for wear but not only does he point to the whims of the wind, he also carries a reminder of history and faith, and a touch of wartime intrigue.

 

The oldest surviving weathervane with the shape of a cockerel is the Gallo di Ramperto, made in 820 and now preserved in the Museo di Santa Giulia in Brescia, Lombardy. 

And it was during the 9^th century AD that they became more common on church spires and towers. The Bayeux Tapestry, commissioned in the 1070s, depicts a man installing a weathercock on Westminster Abbey.

More local to home, the tale goes that during the Second World War, the directional markers — North, East, West, and South — were removed from the St James weathervane, not as an act of vandalism but a deliberate strategy to confound enemy navigators who might use such landmarks to guide their way. 

A clever move, perhaps, but it came at a cost: those markers were lost to time, leaving the weathervane to spin freely without its cardinal companions. 

Yet, fear not, for St James’ Church itself holds the key to navigation, as it was built, like so many churches, with its chancel facing east toward Jerusalem, the symbolic direction of Christ’s return. This architectural alignment means that even without the letters, one can stand near the church, note the east-facing altar, and deduce the other compass points with ease. The cockerel still faithfully tells us the wind’s direction—whether it blows from the north with a chilly bite or from the west with a gentle breeze.

This connection between the weathervane and the wind also carries a deeper spiritual resonance, found in Scripture. In John 3:8, Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit, saying, “The wind blows where it wills, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 

Just as the weathervane atop St James’ pivots to follow the unseen wind, so too does the Holy Spirit move in mysterious, unpredictable ways, guiding and inspiring those who are open to His presence.

Elsewhere in Scripture, the cockerel carries its own symbolic weight. In Matthew 26:34, Jesus foretells Peter’s denial, saying, “Before the cockerel crows, you will deny me three times.” The crowing of the cockerel became a sobering reminder of human frailty but also of redemption, as Peter’s repentance led to his restoration. Our Gatley cockerel, then, is more than a weather indicator—it’s a call to humility, vigilance, and trust in God’s grace.
The east-facing orientation of St James’ also echoes biblical imagery. In Ezekiel 43:2, the prophet sees the glory of God coming from the east, a direction associated with divine presence and hope. By aligning the church eastward, its builders rooted it in this tradition, ensuring that every sunrise over the altar speaks of renewal and the promise of God’s coming kingdom. 

So, when you glance up at our weathervane, you’re not just checking the wind—you’re connecting to centuries of faith, where the cockerel’s turn signals both earthly breezes and heavenly whispers. 
Next time you pass St James’ Church, look up at our weathervane. Let it remind you of the Holy Spirit’s unseen guidance, and the church’s enduring alignment with God’s promises.

By the way, let us know if you have any NEWS regarding the location of the compass points and we’ll see if we can get them reinstalled!