St.Peter
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Hargrave
St.Peter |
| Endowed by a Cheshire Dick Whittington this little church is hidden in amongst twisting lanes east of Chester. | How to find it. The little church is tucked away and probably the easiest way to find it is to take the A41 south out of Chester turn left in to Waverton then into Common Lane which becomes Long Lane. Continue to the beautifully named Golden Nook before crossing over the Shropshire Union Canal to the church. Map. Ref. 486622 |
| History In the late Tudor times Thomas Moulson of Hargrave was sent to the Grammar School in Tarvin by his father, a farmer. It was a walk of several miles including a crossing of the little River Gowy. On one occasion after a severe thunderstorm the Gowy was flooded and Thomas had to sleep overnight in a hay stack. As this was not an infrequent happening Thomas swore that when he grew up he would built a church and school in Hargrave. He left Hargrave and went to London and made his fortune. In 1627 he kept his promise and built a combined school and chapel at Hargrave. |
| In a tablet inserted by the porch is the following; |  |
Thomas Moulsone of ye Citty of London Alderman built this chappel upon his own cost and charge Ano Dni:1627 |
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| Other Information Thomas Moulson became a Master Grocer in London and was so diligent in his trade that he rose through the ranks.
Sir Thomas died on 6th December 1638 and just before his death, Sir Thomas set up a Trust with land to maintain the church and school that he had established and included in it were annuities in perpetuity for the salary of the curate and the schoolmaster. The capital was invested in the Trust's name and still produces a substantial income today. After the payment of expenses the balance of income is divided into three equal parts. These are as follows:
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