Since his congregation could bear only a small part of the cost of building a church, Cheshire had to ask for assistance elsewhere. His family and friends in Edgecombe County contributed about one-fourth of the total cost. In a communication to the _Church Messenger_ Cheshire requested the rectors of the larger parishes of the Diocese to contribute one Sunday's offering to the completion of the Durham church. On the general subject of soliciting aid for religious purposes, he declared: "Indiscriminate begging from anybody and everybody to the neglect of every consideration, except the chance of getting a dollar, is not becoming to the cause of religion, and is a positive discouragement to Christian liberality." This was the kind of soliciting which he never practiced. Throughout his ministry he requested aid for the church of only those who he felt were rightfully responsible for its support. By the spring of 1881 the church was completed at a cost of about twenty-five hundred dollars. In a remarkably short time, less than a year and a half, the money had been raised and the building erected. Cheshire named it "St. Philip, the Deacon," feeling it to be the "fruit" of his work as a deacon. It was with much pride and happiness that, on July 24, 1881, he assisted Bishop Lyman in the consecration of St. Philip's—a fitting close to his work in that mission.[11] Cheshire never expected, nor did he ever receive, any compensation from the Diocese for his missionary activities. Concerning extra parochial work, he said: "I did not look upon work outside the parish as extra work, for which I should receive extra remuneration or special commendation."[12] Shortly after Cheshire began his work in Durham, the Treasurer of the Diocese sent him a check for twenty dollars, which he promptly returned, saying that he "did not desire to receive anything from the Diocesan Treasury."[13] During his three years of service in Durham the little mission paid him small amounts from time to time, which approximately covered the expenses he incurred. He looked upon his labors for this mission as "a pure work of love and missionary enterprise." In recalling this experience, he declared: "I believe I worked harder and with more enthusiasm in my Mission of St. Philip's, Durham, and afterwards in establishing St. Mark's Church, Mecklenburg County, than in any other work I ever undertook...."[14]