The data are in the form of two tables: the first one gives information about each ancient parish whilst the second one gives information about each chapelry that may exist within each ancient parish. This complexity is brought about by having ancient parishes which after the dissolution of the monasteries in the sixteenth century possessed in some form or another, both an ecclesiastical role and a civil role. This duel role existed until the nineteenth century.
Ancient Parish |
Earliest Reference / Creation Date |
Constituent Chapelries |
Constituent Townships |
Additional Comments |
References |
Acton |
|
(none) |
Acton, Aston iuxta Mondrem, Austerson, Baddington, Brindley, Burland, Cholmondeston, Edleston, Faddiley, Henhull, Hurleston, Poole, Stoke, Worleston; most of Coole Pilate, small parts of Newhall, Baddiley, and Dodcott cum Wilkesley, and part of Sound. |
At one time included the chapelries of Church Minshull, Nantwich, and Wrenbury, and possibly contained the parish of Baddiley. |
[3][4] |
Alderley |
1328 |
(none) |
Nether Alderley, Over Alderley, Great Warford. |
Was once a chapelry of Prestbury. |
[3][5] |
Aldford |
|
(none) |
Aldford, Buerton, Churton by Aldford, Edgerley. |
|
[3] |
Ashton upon Mersey |
1350 |
(none) |
Sale; part of Ashton upon Mersey. |
The two parishes of Ashton upon Mersey and Bowdon were split up into numerous small portions which were inter-mingled in a complex manner and can only be distinguished completely by viewing the relevant tithe maps for the area. |
[3][6] |
Astbury |
|
Congleton |
Buglawton, Congleton, Davenport, Eaton, Hulme Walfield, Moreton cum Alcumlow, Newbold Astbury, Odd Rode, Radnor, Smallwood, Somerford, Somerford Booths. |
At one time included the parishes of Brereton, Church Lawton, and Swettenham. |
[3] |
Audlem |
|
(none) |
Audlem, Buerton, Hankelow, Tittenley. Parts of Coole Pilate, Dodcott cum Wilkesley, and Newhall. |
Was probably once part of Wybunbury parish. |
[7][4] |
Backford |
|
(none) |
Caughall, Chorlton by Backford, Great Mollington, Lea. Almost all of Backford. |
Used to contain Moston that later became part of Chester Saint Mary on the hill parish. |
[7][6] |
Baddiley |
|
(none) |
Baddiley |
Was probably once part of Acton parish, but could also have been part of Wybunbury parish. |
[7][4] |
Barrow |
|
(none) |
Barrow (Great Barrow and Little Barrow hamlets). |
Is claimed to have once been part of Tarvin parish. |
[7] |
Barthomley |
|
Alsager, Haslington |
Alsager, Balterley (in Staffordshire), Barthomley, Crewe, Haslington. |
The parish extended into Staffordshire. Claimed to once contain a small part of Hassall township. |
[7][8] |
Bebington |
1291 |
(none) |
Higher Bebington, Lower Bebington, Poulton cum Spital, Storeton, Tranmere. |
|
[7] |
Bidston |
|
Birkenhead |
Bidston cum Ford, Moreton cum Lingham, Saughall Massie. Part of Birkenhead, most of Claughton cum Grange. |
|
[7][4][6] |
Bowdon |
|
Altrincham, Carrington (consecrated 1759). |
Altrincham, Ashley, Bowdon, Dunham Massey, Hale, Timperley. Parts of Agden, Ashton upon Mersey, Baguley, Bollington. Partington (in Carrington Chapelry). |
The two parishes of Bowdon and Ashton upon Mersey were split up into numerous small portions which were inter-mingled in a complex manner and can only be distinguished completely by viewing the relevant tithe maps for the area. Bowdon also once included the parish of Ashton upon Mersey. |
[7] |
Brereton |
|
(none) |
Brereton cum Smethwick |
Originally part of Astbury parish and made a parish around the time of Henry ViIII. |
[9] |
Bromsborough |
|
(none) |
Brimstage, Bromborough. |
Originally included Eastham parish. |
[9] |
Bunbury |
|
Burwardsley (created 1735) |
Alpraham, Beeston, Bunbury, Burwardsley, Calveley,Haughton, Peckforton, Ridley, Spurstow, Tilstone Fearnall, Tiverton, Wardle. |
Used to contain Tarporley township. |
[9] |
Burton |
|
(none) |
Burton, Puddington. |
|
[9] |
Cheadle |
|
(none) |
Cheadle Bulkeley, Cheadle Moseley. The Bosden component of Handford cum Bosden township. |
The two townships of Cheadle Bulkeley and Cheadle Moseley were split up into numerous small portions which were inter-mingled in a complex manner and can only be distinguished completely by viewing the relevant tithe maps for the area. |
[9] |
Chester Holy Trinity |
|
(none) |
Holy Trinity, The Blacon part of Blacon cum Crabwell. |
|
[9] |
Chester Saint Bridget |
|
(none) |
(none) |
|
[9] |
Chester Saint John |
|
(none) |
(none) |
Although no townships were dependant upon this parish, it did contain 16 fields that were part of Hoole. |
[9] |
Chester Saint Martin |
|
(none) |
(none) |
|
[10] |
Chester Saint Mary on the hill |
|
(none) |
Claverton, Little Mollington, Marlston cum Lache, Moston, Saint Mary (Chester) including Gloverstone. The greater part of Upton. |
|
[10] |
Chester Saint Michael |
|
(none) |
(none) |
|
[10] |
Chester Saint Olave |
|
(none) |
(none) |
|
[10] |
Chester Saint Oswald |
|
(none) |
Bache, Croughton, Great Boughton, Iddinshall, Newton by Chester, Saint Oswald (Chester), Wervin. The Crabwall part of Blacon cum Crabwall, part of Upton, and the islands of Hilbre and Little Eye in the Dee Estuary were in this parish. |
Iddinshall was the detached part of this parish, as were Hibre island and Little Eye, which may once have been part of the ancient parish of West Kirby. |
[11][10] |
Chester Saint Peter |
|
(none) |
(none) |
|
[10] |
Christleton |
|
(none) |
Christleton, Cotton Abbotts, Cotton Edmunds, Littleton, Rowton. |
|
[10] |
Church Lawton |
|
(none) |
Church Lawton |
Originally part of Astbury ancient Parish |
[10] |
Church Minshull |
|
(none) |
Church Minshull |
Originally a chapelry of Acton ancient parish. |
[12][10] |
Coddington |
|
(none) |
Aldersey, Chowley, Coddington. |
|
[10] |
Coppenhall |
1373 |
(none) |
Church Coppenhall, Monks Coppenhall |
Originally a chapelry of Acton parish. |
[13][10] |
Davenham |
|
(none) |
Bostock, Davenham, Eaton, Leftwich, Moulton, Newhall, Shipbrook, Shurlach cum Bradford, Stanthorne, Wharton, Whatcroft. |
Although extra-parochial, Rudheath Lordship was associated with this parish. |
[14][15] |
Delamere |
1812 |
(none) |
Delamere, Eddisbury, Kingswood, Oakmere. |
Originally an extra-parochial place which was part of Delamere Forest, the parish was formed by unifying the forest part with Eddisbury, Kingswood, and Oakmere townships. |
[15] |
Dodleston |
|
(none) |
Dodleston, Higher Kinnerton (Flintshire), Lower Kinnerton. |
The parish extended into Flintshire, in Wales. |
[15] |
Eastham |
1152 |
(none) |
Childer Thornton, Eastham, Great Sutton, Hooton, Little Sutton, Netherpool, Overpool, the greater part of Whitby. |
Originally, this was a chapelry of Bromborough ancient parish. |
[15] |
Eccleston |
|
(none) |
Eaton, Eccleston |
|
[15] |
Farndon |
before 1301 |
(none) |
Barton, Churton by Farndon, Clutton, Crewe (by Farndon), Farndon. |
Up to the 14th century, Farndon also included the chapelry of Holt in Denbighshire, Wales. |
[15] |
Frodsham |
|
Alvanley |
Alvanley, Frodsham, Frodsham Lordship, Helsby, Kingsley, Manley, Newton by Frodsham, most of Norley. |
Frodsham and Frodsham Lordship are so inter-mingled that one needs to refer to the tithe maps in order to distinguish between them. Within Frodsham, the hamlets of Bradley, Netherton, Overton, and Woodhouses approached township status in their own right. |
[15] |
Gawsworth |
1382 |
(none) |
Gawsworth |
Originally was a chapelry in Prestbury ancient parish. |
[16] |
Grappenhall |
|
Latchford |
Grappenhall, Latchford. |
|
[16] |
Great Budworth |
1269 |
Little Leigh, Lower Whitley, Lower Peover, Witton. |
Allostock. Anderton, Antrobus, Appleton, Aston by Budworth, Barnton, Bartington, Castle Northwich, Cogshall, Comberbach, Crowley, Great Budworth, Hartford, Higher Whitley, Hulse, Lach Dennis, Little Leigh, Lostock Gralam, Lower Whitley, Marbury, Nether Peover, Nirches, Northwich, Peover Inferior, Pickmere, Plumley, Seven Oaks, Stretton, Tabley Inferior, Wincham, Winnington, Witton cum Twambrook. Most of Dutton was in this parish, as well as a detached portion of Marrston township. Witton chapelry also contained a small part of the Rudheath Lordship. |
|
[16] |
Guilden Sutton |
|
(none) |
Guilden Sutton |
|
[16] |
Handley |
|
(none) |
Golborne David, Handley |
|
[16] |
Harthill |
|
(none) |
Harthill |
Sometimes said to be a "free chapelry", and probably used to be part of Malpas ancient parish. |
[16] |
Heswall |
|
(none) |
Gayton, Heswall cum Oldfield. |
|
[16] |
Ince |
|
(none) |
Ince |
The north-west tip of Ince was in Stoke ancient parish. |
[16] |
Knutsford |
1741 |
(none) |
Bexton, Nether Knutsford, Ollerton, Over Knutsford, Toft. |
This was originally a chapelry of Rostherne ancient parish. |
[17][16] |
Lymm |
|
(none) |
Lymm |
|
[18] |
Malpas |
|
Whitewell (Flintshire, Wales) |
Agden, Bickerton, Bickley, Broxton, Bulkeley, Chidlow, Cholmondeley, Chorlton, Cuddington, Duckington, Edge, Egeton, Hampton, Iscoyd, Larton, Macefen, Malpas, Newton by Malpas, Oldcastle, Overton, Stockton, Tushingham cum Grindley, Wigland, Wychough. A detached part of Bradley was part of this parish. |
Iscoyd was part of the Whitewell Chapelry, Flintshire, Wales. Cholmondeley is said to have the status of "chapel of ease". Harthill was probably at one time part of this parish. |
[18] |
Middlewich |
|
(none) |
Byley cum Yatehouse, Clive, Croxton, Kinderton cum Hulme, Middlewich, Minshull Vernon, Noresbarrow cum Parme, Newton, Occlestone, Ravenscroft, Sproston, Stublach (detached), Sutton, Weaver, Wimboldsley. |
|
[19] |
Mobberley |
|
(none) |
Mobberley |
|
[19] |
Mottram in Longdendale |
|
(none) |
Godley, Hattersley, Hollingworth, Matley, Mottram in Longdendale, Newton, Stayley, Tintwistle |
Tintwistle contained Woodhead Chapel as well as the hamlets of Micklehurst and Arnfield. |
[19] |
Nantwich |
1677 |
(none) |
Alvaston, Leighton, Nantwich, Woolstanwood. Part of Willaston. |
Originally was a chapelry of Acton ancient parish. |
[19] |
Neston |
|
(none) |
Great Neston, Ledsham, Leighton, Little Neston cum Hargrave, Ness, Raby, Thornton Hough, Willaston. |
|
[19] |
Northenden |
|
(none) |
Northenden, Northern Etchells. A very small part (30 fields) of Bagueley township were also part of this parish. |
|
[19] |
Over |
|
Wettenhall |
Oulton Lowe, Wettenhall. A small part of Marton township. Part of Over township. |
Little Budworth used to be a chapelry of this parish. Vale Royal abbey complicates matters for this parish, as most of its lands were in Over parish (with some also in Weaverham ancient parish) Upon dissolution, its church was made a separate parish of Whitegate which included another township originally in Over: Darnhall, and also a large part of Marton township. |
[20][21][19] |
Overchurch |
|
(none) |
Upton. |
|
[19] |
Plemstall |
|
(none) |
Bridge Trafford, Mickle Trafford, Picton, Also all of Hoole (remainder was in Chester Saint John ancient parish.) |
|
[19] |
Prestbury |
before 1312 |
Bosley, Capesthorne, Macclesfield, Macclesfield Forest, Marton, Pott Shrigley, Poynton, Rainow, Siddington, Wincle |
Adlington, Birtles, Bollington, Bosley, Butley, Capesthorne, Fallibroome, Henbury cum Pexall, Hurdsfield, Kettleshulme, Lower Withington, Lyme Handley, Macclesfield, Macclesfield Forest, Marton, Mottram Saint Andrew, Newton, North Rode, Pott Shrigley, Poynton, Prestbury, Rainow, Siddington, Sutton Downes, Tytherington, Upton, Wildboarclough, Wincle, Woodford, Worth |
Originally included the parishes of Alderley, and Taxal. Also originally included the chapelriy of Chelford (made a parish in 1674), and Gawsworth (made a parish in 1382, and containing Mutlow, which is said to be the possible meeting place of the old Domesday Hundred of Hamestan.). Woodford is sometimes said to have been part of Poynton chapelry. Newron township was said to have a chapel of ease in a map of 1740, though it was noted to be entirely ruined. |
[22][23][24] |
Pulford |
|
(none) |
Poulton, Pulford |
|
[25] |
Rostherne |
|
Over Peover |
High Legh, Marthall cum Warford, Peover Superior, Snelson, Mere, Millington, Rostherne, Tabley Superior, Tatton. Part of Agden and Bollington townships. |
Once contained Knutsford chapelry, but this was made a full parish in 1741. High Legh and Tabley Superior were marked as being "chapels of eased" on a 1740 map. |
[17][25] |
Runcorn |
1086 |
Aston, Daresbury, Halton, Poolsey, Thelwall |
Acton Grange, Aston by Sutton, Aston Grange, Clifton, Daresbury, Halton, Hatton, Keckwick, Moore, Newton by Daresbury, Norton, Preston on the hill, Runcorn, Stockham, Sutton iuxta Frodsham, Thelwall, Walton Inferior, Walton Superior, Weston. Part of Dutton. |
Dutton township was in this parish and the parish of Great Budworth. Poolsey chapelry was buolt in 1236, near Dutton. It was "lost" when people abandoned it for the nearby Dutton chapel, and was last mentioned in 1778. Aston was made a parochial chapelry in 1635. Thelwall chapelry was a detached area associated with Daresbury chapelry. |
[26][27] |
Sandbach |
1350 |
Church Hulme, Goostrey |
Arclid, Blackden, Betchton, Bradwall, Church Hulme, Cotton, Cranage, Earnshaw, Goostrey cum Barnshaw, Hassall, Leese, Sandbach, Twemlow, Wheelock |
Leese was a township that was detached from its chapelry of Goostrey. Earnshaw was a detached part of Rudheath Lordship. |
[28] |
Shocklach |
|
(none) |
Caldecott, Church Shocklach, Shocklach Oviatt |
|
[25] |
Shotwick |
|
(none) |
Capenhurst, Great Saughall, Little Saughall, Shotwick, Woodbank |
The extra-parochial area of Shotwick Park, which is entirely enclosed within this parish and the River Dee estuary, may once have been part of this parish, |
[29] |
Stockport |
1558 |
Disley, Marple, Chadkirk, |
Bramhall, Bredbury, Brinnington, Disley, Dukinfield, Hyde, Marple, Norbury, Offerton, Romiley, Stockport, Stockport Etchells, Torkington, Werneth |
Dukinfield was noted as being a Chapel of ease in 1740. |
[29][30] |
Stoke |
late 13th century |
(none) |
Little Stanney, Stoke. Pats of the townships of Whitby, Backford, and Ince (that part in Eddisbury Hundred) were aloso in Stoke parish. |
Stanlow and Great Stanney, although extra-parochial areas, seem later on to have had some connection with Stoke parish. Stoke parish may originally have been part of Chester Saint Osawald parish, which had burial rights in Stoke up to the late 13th century. |
[31][32] |
Swettenham |
|
(none) |
Kermincham, Swettenham. |
Probably used to be part of Astbury parish. |
[29] |
Tarporley |
around 1200 |
(none) |
Eaton, Rushton, Tarporley, Utkinton |
Tarporley was stated to be a separate parish after Papal authorities rejected a claim that it was a chapelry of Bunbury parish. |
[29] |
Tarvin |
|
(none) |
Ashton, Bruen Stapleford, Burton, Clotton Hoofield, Duddon, Foulk Stapleford, Hockenhull, Horton cum Peel, Kelsall, Mouldsworth, Tarvin. |
It is sometimes claimed that Barrow parish may have once been part of this parish. Prior's Hey, an extra-parochial area, was later on sometimes said to be part of Tarvin. |
[33] |
Tattenhall |
|
(none) |
Golborne Bellow, Newton by Tattenhall, Tattenhall |
|
[29] |
Taxal |
1377 |
(none) |
Taxal, Yeardsley cum Whaley |
Taxal parish was created from Taxal chapelry in Prestbury parish in 1377. |
[29] |
Thornton |
|
(none) |
Dunham on the hill, Elton, Hapsford, Thornton le moors, Wimbolds Trafford |
|
[34] |
Thurstaston |
|
(none) |
Thurstaston. A small part of Greasby township was in this parish, as was a small part of Irby township. |
|
[34] |
Tilston |
|
(none) |
Carden, Grafton, Horton, Stretton, Tilston |
Grafton was an extra-parochial liberty which only became part of Tilston parish in 1841, |
[35] |
Wallasey |
|
(none) |
Liscard, Poulton cum Seacombe, Wallasey |
|
[34] |
Warburton |
|
(none) |
Warburton |
This was said to have originally been an ancient free chapel, associated with Lymm parish. |
[35][36] |
Warmingham |
|
(none) |
Elton, Moston, Tetton, Warmingham |
|
[34] |
Waverton |
|
(none) |
Hatton, Huxley, Waverton |
|
[34] |
Weaverham |
|
(none) |
Acton, Cuddington, Onston, Wallerscote. Most of Crowton and Weaverham cum Milton townships. |
A very small part of Crowton township lay in Norley township in Frodsham parish, and vice versa. The location of Vale Royal Abbey complicated the picture for Weaverham cum Milton township, with parts of that township (Hefferson Grange, Weaverham Wood, and small parts of Sandiway) being in Whitegate parish. |
[37][38][39] |
West Kirby |
|
(none) |
Caldy, Frankby, Grange, Great Meols, Hoose, Little Meols, Newton cum Larton, West Kirby. Most of Greasby township lay in this parish (with the remaining small part in Thurstaston parish.) |
|
[34] |
Whitegate |
1541/1542 |
(none) |
Darnhall. The greater part of Marton township parts of Over township; and parts of Weaverham townships lay in this parish. |
The presence of Vale Royal Abbey and its dissolution in the sicteenth century complicates matters for this parish. It was created as a result of the abbey's dissolution, when the parish was also known as "New Church" |
[37][38][39] |
Wilmslow |
|
(none) |
Bollin Fee, Chorley, Fulshaw, Pownall Fee |
Wilmslow was the name of just the church and churchyard which later became applied to the entire area. |
[40][41] |
Wistaston |
around 1299/1300 |
(none) |
Wistaston |
Originally was part of Wybunbury parish |
[40] |
Woodchurch |
|
(none) |
Arrowe, Barnston, Landican, Noctorum, Oxton, Pensby, Prenton, Thingwall, Woodchurch. The greater part of Irby township was in this parish, as was a small part of Claughton cum Grange township. |
It is claimed that Woodchurch township might once have originally been part of Landicam, which in turn might have possible origins in a church that predates the Domesday book. |
[42][43] |
Wybunbury |
|
(none) |
Basford, Batherton, Blakenhall, Bridgemere, Checkley cum Wrinehill, Chorlton, Doddington, Hatherton, Hough, Hunsterson, Lea, Rope, Shavington cum Gresty, Stapeley, Walgherton, Weston, Wybunbury. Part of Willaston township was in this parish. |
Most of Wrinehill (in Checkley cum Wrinehill) was in Staffordshire. The parish was originally much l,arger, and included the parishes of Audlem, Coppenhall, Wistaston, and (possibly) Baddiley. |
[40] |
Various areas of Cheshire were not included in any ancient parish. As Dunn states: The reasons are various and occasionally obscure. Dunn later goes on to state that associations with religious houses (priories, abbeys and so on) or with the Crown seem to explain most of them, but this area of research is still ongoing.[61] The following table contains the extra-parochial places or areas of Cheshire with some details about each of them:[61][62][63]