St. Mary’s consists of a nave, chancel, and side aisles, with a square tower at the west end, used as a belfry. The south aisle, called Troutbeck’s Chapel, was erected by William Troutbeck, of Dunham, in the fifteenth century. This chapel is noticed in the ecclesiastical survey taken by the Commissioners appointed by Henry the Eighth, and its annual rents, arising from lands and tenements within the city of Chester, are estimated at £5 6s. In this chapel were many monuments of the founder’s family, which, according to Holmes, “were thought to exceed anything of the kind in England;” but these were destroyed, by the falling in of the roof, in 1660. In 1690, the parishioners having obtained a grant of the site from the Duke of Shrewsbury, representative of the Troutbecks, built thereon the present south aisle. The north aisle was anciently called the Chapel of St. Catherine.

The tower of St. Mary’s is only 50 feet high, its further elevation having been objected to by the Governor of Chester Castle, when it was repaired in 1715, lest it should command the castle-yard.

In this church are several monuments well worthy the attention of the visitor. Amongst these is one to the memory of Thomas Gamul, Recorder of Chester, who died in 1613. The deceased is represented in a recumbent posture, with his wife on his right hand, and his only son in the attitude of prayer at his knee: on the side of the tomb his three daughters, who died in infancy, holding skeletons in their hands. The statues of this monument are of alabaster. Another to the memory of Philip Oldfield, of Bradwell, who died in 1616, represents him in the costume of that age, leaning on his right side, with a roll of parchment in his hand. The slab is supported by kneeling figures of his four sons, with their hands upon their sword hilts: at the head are figures of his two daughters bearing shields. In the north aisle are tablets to the memory of different members of the family of Holmes, the celebrated antiquaries. Of this family, four successively bore the name of Randle. The first, who was Sheriff of Chester in 1615, and Mayor in 1633, died in 1654; the second was Mayor of Chester in 1643, and died in 1659; the third, author of the ‘Academic Armoury,’ was gentleman sewer to Charles the Second, and Deputy Garter King of Arms, and died in 1699; and the fourth was Deputy Norroy King of Arms, and died in 1707. Of these four Randle Holmes, the second and third were the celebrated antiquarian collectors; and there are some compilations of a similar nature, brought down to 1704, by the last. Several stained-glass windows have lately been introduced, the principal ones consisting of a memorial in honour of the heroes of the 23rd regiment of Welsh Fusiliers, who fell at the battle of the Alma in the Russian war: and another to the memory of the late rector, the Rev. W. H. Massie, who was universally beloved, and who effected great improvements in the church and parish.

St. Mary’s is a rectory, in the gift of the Marquis of Westminster. The present rector is the Rev. C. Boween, M.A.

There are Sunday evening lectures in this church, under the patronage of the Bishop of the diocese. They are supported by annual subscriptions, aided by collections in the church.

St. Bridget’s Church.

The old church of St. Bridget, or St. Bride (now removed), was situate on the west side of Bridge-street, exactly opposite to St. Michael’s. There exists no correct data on which to ascertain the time of its foundation, which tradition attributes to Offa, King of Mercia, who reigned in the end of the eighth century, about which time we are told that several churches were founded in Chester. There is, however, clear evidence, from writings among the Harleian MSS., that in the twelfth century the patronage of this church belonged to the Lords of Aldford, by one of whom, in 1224, it was quitclaimed to Randle Blundeville. From another writing it appears that, in 1265, Simon, Abbot of St. Werburgh, in consideration of certain grants and donations, made to him by Bertram de Arneway, bound himself to maintain a chaplain to say mass for the soul of John Arneway, before the altar of the Virgin in St. Bridget’s Church. This church was formerly surrounded by a wall, which encroached considerably upon Bridge-street, and the ground between this wall and the church was used as a burying-place; but in 1785 the bodies were removed to a piece of ground on the south of the church, and the street widened. The church walls were refaced with freestone, and other repairs made at the same time. A gateway formerly crossed the street between St. Bridget’s and St. Michael’s churches, dividing higher from lower Bridge-street. The old church of St. Bridget was taken down in 1827, under the provisions of the New Bridge Act, in order to improve the approach into the city, and the new church was erected on the north-west side of the castle. The ceremony of laying the foundation stone was performed by the Right Rev. C. J. Blomfield, then Lord Bishop of the diocese. The length is about 90 feet, and the width 50, and the church is calculated to contain 1,000 persons. “It is rather a remarkable circumstance,” says Hemingway, “that although St. Bridget’s parish is wholly within the city, the ground occupied by the church and cemetery is neither within the parish nor the city, but altogether within the county palatine; but by a clause in the act, it is enacted, that after the consecration, it shall ‘for all purposes, and to all intents whatsoever, be deemed part of, and situated within the said parish of St. Bridget, and within the said city of Chester.’”

The Rev. G. Salt, M.A., is the present incumbent.

St. Michael’s Church

is situate on the east side of Bridge-street, opposite the end of Grosvenor-street, leading to the New Bridge. The time of its foundation is uncertain, but it is supposed to have been connected with the Monastery of St. Michael, which was given to the priory of Norton by Roger de Lacy in a charter, subsequently confirmed by Henry the Second; it is recorded by Bradshaw, that “the Monastery of St. Michael was burnt by the great fire which happened on Mid-Lent Sunday in 1118, at eight of the clock (all being in church), and consumed the greatest part of the city.” It is conjectured that this monastery was situated in Bridge-street, in Rock’s-court, where, Dr. Williamson says, “before it was converted into dwelling houses, one might have beheld fair, churchlike windows, and other demonstrations of its being part of a religious house.” The chancel was rebuilt in 1496, and enlarged in 1678. The old steeple, which was built in 1710, having fallen into decay, from the perishable nature of the red sandstone, was taken down in 1849, and the present handsome structure, built with white stone, was erected in its place. The south, east, and a portion of the north walls of the church having also been found to be in a very defective state, they were taken down in 1850; in fact, the church has been almost entirely rebuilt, as none of the old walls remain, except the three internal arches, and a part of the north wall. The flat ceiling has been removed, but the nave and chancel roofs being principally constructed of oak, and in a good state of preservation, have been retained; they have, however, been re-slated. The north chancel has been entirely rebuilt and new roofed. The north aisle of the nave is divided from the body of the church by three pointed arches springing from octagonal columns, the capitals being ornamented with quatrefoils. The interior of the old building was very inconvenient, unsightly, and dilapidated, but it is now completely restored in proper ecclesiastical style. The chancel is paved with beautiful tiles, those within the communion rails being liberally given by Mr. Minton. Each compartment of the five chancel windows is surrounded with a neat border of stained glass. The style of architecture adopted in the restoration of the church is the transition from the decorated to the perpendicular, that being considered as best suited to those portions of the old building which are retained. Great credit is due to Mr. James Harrison, the architect, for the very great skill and judgment he has displayed in the restoration of the church. The total cost was about £1,700, of which the parishioners borrowed £500 on the security of the church rates; the remaining sum was raised by subscription. Besides many smaller bequests from different individuals, this parish enjoys, under the will of Dr. Robert Oldfield, dated 24th of April, 1695, “two-thirds of Dunham Hall, and other lands and messuages at Dunham-on-the-Hill, together with lands at Boughton, for the purpose of paying £20 a year to the minister, provided he hold no other preferment, and of binding poor boys apprentices born in that parish, and of maintaining one or more poor boys, who should be apt to learn, at the University.” Owing to proper objects not having every year presented themselves, the revenues have accumulated, and with the bequeathed property now produce an annual rent of upwards of £400. St. Michael’s is a perpetual curacy, in the gift of the Bishop of Chester. The present officiating minister is the Rev. J. F. Hewson.