Chester, Cheshire - St John the Baptist

The date of foundation in 689AD by Aethelred King of Mercia may be revised to as early as the 3rd or 4th century as further scholarship reveals new information. It was enlarged by Aethelfleda, the daughter of King Alfred the Great and her husband Aethelred in 907. King Edgar came here in 973 to receive the homage of the sub-kings of England, Scotland and Wales, and in 1075 Bishop Peter de Leya the first Norman Bishop came from Lichfield, pulled down the Saxon Minster and began building a new cathedral, which took hundreds of years.  King Richard II enhanced the cathedral church in memory of his late father, the Black Prince.  Henry VIII and Edward VI despoiled it, and King Charles I was shot at by a sniper from the roof of the West Tower as he stood on the tower of the new cathedral to watch the battle of Rowton Moor.

The Great West Tower collapsed in 1881 and together with the ruins at the east end is now part of the Scheduled Ancient Monument and Grade I listed building that is this church.

These two stones, laid as paving outside the church, are in memory of an Iron Master, and an Ostrich Feather Manufacturer - most unusual!

The notice says: " Effigy of a Knight.  This knight, in chain mail and tunic, once held a shield, reputedly showing the Carrington coat of arms.  The cross-legged, sword-drawing attitude is typical of the late 13th century."

This monument shows a skeleton holding up a sheet inscribed with details of Diana Warburton, Wife and Relict of S. George Warburton.  There are more skulls at the base of the monument.

This elaborate wall memorial bears an image of the deceased, a member of the Warburton family, who died in 1728 aged 63, and a lengthy inscription in Latin.

John Powell was sexton of this parish for 37 years, and died in August 1881.  His son Frank Powell was sexton and verger of this church for 47 years and died in August 1931.  

A wonderfully elaborate memorial to Mathew Anderton, who died in November, 1693.