Historical antiquities, in two books the first treating in general of Great-Brettain and Ireland : the second containing particular remarks concerning Cheshire / faithfully collected out of authentick histories, old deeds, records, and evidences, by Sir Peter Leycester, Baronet ; whereunto is annexed a transcript of Doomsday-book, so far as it concerneth Cheshire, taken out of the original record.

1669. Churches in the City of Chester.

• 1. SAint Werburge, or the Cathedral Church, with a square Steeple in the middle, having the Parish Church of St. Oswald in the South Isle thereof, because St. Oswald's Church, which was wont to be the Parish Church, is now the com∣mon Hall of the City.
• 2. St. Peters, with a Spire Steeple, by the High Cross.
• 3. Trinity Curch, with a Spire Steeple also, in the Water-gate Street.
• 4. St. Martin's of the Ash.
• 5. St. Maries, by the Castle.
• 6. St. Toola's, that is, St. Olaves, near to the Bridge.
• 7. St. Michaels, in the middle of the Bridge Street, formerly a Monastery. See Mo∣nasticon, Pars 2. pag. 185.
• 8. St. Brigits, over against St. Michaels, on the other side of the Street.
• 9. St. John's Church, by the River side, without the Walls.
• 10. Little St. Johns, without the North Gate; it was demolished in the time of the late War, about 1645.

Concerning the Churches and Chappels of Bucklow Hundred, I shall speak more particularly in their due place and order, as within the compass of my intended Task; onely we may take notice here, that Parishes were first distinguished in England under Honorius Archbishop of Canterbury, about the Year of Christ 636. Cambden's Britannia Printed 1607. pag. 116. Parker's Historia Cantuariensis, pag. 52.

Ridley, in his View of the Civil and Ecclesiastical Law, tells us, pa. 176, 177. that Fonts in the Primitive Times, were not in the Churches; but the Custom of those elder Ages, was to Baptize in Rivers and Fountains; and that Custom being discontinued through Persecution, Fonts were erected in private Houses; and in more peaceable Ages they made bold to build their Fonts a little distance from the Church: after∣wards they obtained to set them in the Church Porch; at last they got them into the Church: But they were not at first placed in every Church immediately; for at the first they were found onely in the Cathedral Church where the Bishop resided: and though Service might be said in the lesser Minsters and Rural Churches, yet the Right of Sepulture and Baptism belonged to the Cathedral Church, unless it were in case of necessity; and it was therefore called The Mother-Church, because as People in their Mo∣thers Womb were born Men, so in the Fonts of Baptism, as in the Churches Womb, they were born Christians. In succeeding Ages, when it was found that the Mother-Church was too far distant from some Villages, and so situated, that in the Winter the People could not repair thither, consideration was had of this Inconvenience, and the Bishop took occasion hence to transfer the Rite of Baptism and Sepulture to the Rural Churches, and this, together with the Rite of Tythes, made it a Parish Church of that kind which we now have. But because also in many Parishes some Families lived so remote from the Church, that they could not conveniently frequent the same, it was indulged to such, that they might build a private Oratory in or near their Mansion-places, reserving for the most part the Rite of Baptism and Sepulture to the Parish Church, which, in respect of these lesser Oratories, was to be accounted the Baptismal or Mother-Church. It was also provided, that these Families (notwithstanding their Grant from the Bishop for a private Oratory) should upon more solemn Feast-days, re∣pair to their Parish Church, as it seems by the Council held at Agatha. These private Oratories were afterwards called Capellae, Chappels; and those that did Exercise in them the Ministerial Function, were called Capellani, Chaplains. Thus Ridley.

Now the word Capella, quasi Capsella, is a Diminutive from Capsa, which signifies a Chest or Coffer, because the Relicks of Saints or holy Persons were kept in such a

Chest; and the place, where such Chest was kept, was so called also; undè Nomen Capella, Capellanus, &c. So Spelman in his Glossary upon that word.

Beatus Rhenanus, with Durand, do derive the word Capella from Capa or Cappa, St. Mar∣tin's Hood being so called barbarously, and carried about for good luck by Lewis the French King in all his Wars. But others derive it à Pellibus Caprarum, wherewith such portable Tents for God's Service, as were to be removed in their warlike Expeditions, were covered. Dr. Prideaux, in his Consecration Sermon of Excester Colledge Chap∣pel in Oxford, pag. 26.

None might of right build Oratories without Licence from the Bishop, at least none might Administer Divine Service there without the Bishop's special Licence.

Oratories erected in the Houses of Great Persons, for the use of a private Family, I call such Domestick Chappels.

When built by one, or several Persons, in some convenient place, for the use of se∣veral Families, or of a Township or Townships, not having liberty of Baptism or Bu∣rial, I call such Chappels of Ease.

When built by a more numerous multitude of the Neighborhood, consisting of one or more Villages, having got liberty for Baptism and Burial, with Consecration thereof by the Bishop, and sometimes an Allowance in Money or Tythes from the Mother-Church, I call such Parochial Chappels: for these have all the Rites and Ceremonies as the Mother-Church or Parish Church hath, except the Tythes; so that indeed they are as lesser Parishes created within the greater for the benefit of the Neighborhood.

As to the Consecration of Churches, we find the Jews had their Encaenia, or Feasts of Dedication of their Temple, John 10. ver. 22.1 Maccabaeorum, cap. 4. ver. 59.

But there was no Dedication of our Christian Churches to Saints, until Praying to Saints was in use; and after Churches began to be Dedicated to Saints, their Dedica∣tion Feasts were usually kept on that Day, which was the Feast-day appointed in the Kalendar for commemoration of that Saint, to whom such Church was particularly Dedicated. This time was called with us, The Wakes, from Waking, as the Latine word Vigiliae, à vigilando, because at such times the People Prayed most of the Night before such Feast-day in the Churches. And though the Primitive Custom herein was sacred, yet how it was abused in the Reign of King Edgar, Anno Domini 967. aut circi∣tèr, appears by the Canons of the Church in his Reign, Num. 28.—Docemus, ut in Ecclesiarum Encaeniis unusquisque se modestum exhibeat, & orationi incumbat diligentèr, non poculis, non luxui deditus. Spelman's Councils, Pars 1. pag. 451. And at last it turned to Feasting and Merriment of Neighbors.

Now Invocation of Saints for three hundred years after Christ cannot be found among any of the Fathers: None did teach Invocation of Saints, till by Rhetorical Expressions, and Poetical Fancies, like Invocating of the Muses, Basil, Nyssen, and Nazianzen had led the way. Dr. Prideaux, Lecture 15. pag. 243.