It appears to have been subsequently called the Church of St. Oswald and the Church of St. Werburgh indiscriminately. It was founded in the ninth century by Ethelfleda, Countess of Mercia. So early as 1093, when Earl Leofric introduced regular monks into the Cathedral, that part of it now occupied by St. Oswald’s was set apart for the use of the parishioners, as we have just stated. The abbot and convent afterwards wishing to re-attach it to the Cathedral, built for the parishioners a small chapel, dedicated to St. Nicholas, in the spot where the Music Hall now stands; but they do not appear to have been contented with their new place of worship; for in 1488 we find, from Gastrel’s ‘Notitia,’ that a “composition was made between the Abbot and the parishioners of St. Oswald’s for their new church.” They accordingly re-entered into the south transept, which had been rebuilt by Abbot Ripley, and have ever since used it as their parish church. St. Oswald’s was formerly in a state of great dilapidation; and was only separated from the aisle of the Cathedral by a slight wooden screen. In 1827 it was thoroughly repaired; the whole was new flagged and pewed, a new pulpit and reading desk added; the old gallery, which was at the west side, taken down, and a new one erected at the south end. The interior was cut off from the aisle by a partition, erected by Dr. Coplestone when Dean, who expended more than £1,000 in various improvements. St. Oswald’s is a vicarage, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Chester Cathedral. The present vicar is the Rev. William Harrison, M.A. [Picture: St. John’s Church & Priory, Chester] CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST. The church is situated without the city walls, a short distance from the Newgate; it stands upon an elevation overhanging the north bank of the Dee, and the churchyard commands a beautiful and extensive prospect. This church, with its adjoining ruins, is the most interesting of the ecclesiastical buildings of Chester. The foundation of the church is ascribed by Webb to Ethelred, Ring of Mercia, and stated, on the authority of Giraldus, to have taken place in the year 689. The MS. chronicle of St. Werburgh makes a similar statement on the same authority; it is also adopted by the author of ‘Polycronicon,’ and thus quaintly recorded— “The year of grace six hundred fourscore nine, So saith my author, a Briton, Giraldus, King Etheldred, minding most the bliss of heaven, Edified a college church, notable and famous, In the suburbs of Chester, pleasant and beauteous, In the honour of God, and the Baptist St. John, With the help of Bishop Wulfrice, and good exhortation.”