Monument record 10075 - Medieval Church of St Bridget the Virgin

The original church of St Bridget the Virgin was located between Bridge Street and Lower Bridge Street, first mentioned in the 12th century it remained in existence until the mid 19th century when it was demolished to make way for Grosvenor Street. The church was subsequently moved to a larger space at the south end of the new street opposite the castle (CHER 10047) where it remained until 1891 after which it transferred to St Mary’s on the Hill.

The medieval church is first mentioned in the time of Earl Ranulph II although it has been suggested that it is in fact of Late Saxon origin (CHER 9053). The patronage of St Bridget's was vested in the Lords of Aldsford but quit claimed to Earl Ranulph II (1). In 1270, John Arneway granted Manor of Crabwell, Blacon to Abbey of St Werburgh for foundation of two chantries, one being altar of the Virgin in the Church of St Bridget's. The Abbot bound himself to maintain chaplain there to celebrate mass for the soul of John Arneway (4 & 5). By 1318, St Bridget's was appropriated by St John's and served by St John's vicars (5).

The church has undergone several major phases of rebuilding; in the 16th century, a drawing by Randle Holme (Harl Mss 2073) shows the church as it was then comprising a nave, with end tower, supporting short steeple and had gabled porch over the tower door (4).

St Bridget's taken down and rebuilt in the mid 17th century and again in around 1785 when it was thoroughly repaired and encased with stone externally. It consisted of tower, nave and side aisles.

The original church had a small churchyard which remained until the mid 18th century when it was removed.
A sketch in Hemingway shows the church prior to demolition. The nave and aisles were embraced, with crocketed pinnacles and windows with intersecting tracery and doors in moulded square surrounds. Plain embraced tower (5).

A number of the inscriptions and shields are recorded from the historic church, very few of which survived its demolition, but which dated to the 16th and 17th centuries. (12)

<1> Richards R, 1947, Old Cheshire Churches, Richards R 1972 /117 (Book). SCH2309.

<2> Alldridge N.J, 1981, Aspects of the topography of early medieval Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5931.

<3> Morris, Rupert H (Rev.), 1894, Chester in the Plantagenet & Tudor Reigns, /115 (Book). SCH946.

<4> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Ormerod G 1882 1/340-342 (Book). SCH1389.

<5> Hemingway, J., 1831, History of Chester, from its foundation to the present time. Volume 1, 2/26-27,113-119 (Book). SCH1436.

<6> Harris, B.E., 1979, Bartholomew City Guides - Chester, /117 (Book). SCH394.

<7> Gastrell F, 1845-1850, Notitia Cestriensis, or historical notices of the diocese of Chester, Gastrell F 1845/98-99 (Article in Journal). SCH2290.

<8> Jones, D., 1957, The Church in Chester 1300-1540, /10,103,109 (Book). SCH3106.

<9> David Leedham, 2010, A History of the Old St Bridgets and Transcription of Grave Inscriptions (Written Communication). SCH5221.

<10> Jiggens A.H.F., 1961, List of inscriptions taken from monuments in St Bridget's Burial Ground, Castle Esplanade and accompanying Plan (Unpublished Report). SCH6296.

<11> Barber, E, 1905, The Churchwarden’s Accounts of the parish of St Bridget, Chester, 1811-1847 (Article in Journal). SCH5542.

<12> Bennett. J.H.E., 1920, Arms and inscriptions sometime in the church of Saint Bridget, Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5680.

<13> Anon, 1964, Monumental inscriptions at St Bridget’s, St Martin’s and Matthew Henry’s Chapel, Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5876.