Near the foot of the tower, on the north side of the church, is an ancient porch, forming the principal entrance, in the sides of which are two lancet arches, the entrance being under an acutely pointed arch, the mouldings of which rest on a number of short shafts, which converge as they retire inwards. “Within this church,” says Ormerod, “was a chantry, dedicated to St. Mary.” Within the precincts of St. John’s were also Thorneton’s chantry, the Chapel of St. Anne, which Piggott says, “in some deeds, is called the ‘_Monastery_ of St. Anne;’ was endowed with land and houses, some of which now constitute the revenues of Northwich school:” there was also the Chapel of St. James’s, which Lysons says was the old parish church; in 1662 it is described as being then used as a stable. It has long since been entirely destroyed. On the south wall of the churchyard was an ancient building, called the “Anchorite’s Cell,” which is said to be the spot where Earl Harold retired after the battle of Hastings, in 1066; a monkish chronicle being extant, which denies the fact of his death in that fight, and states that he lived for some time after at Chester, in the disguise of a monk. In 1770 two skeletons were discovered here in coffin-shaped cavities, scooped out of the rock. The fourteen panel tables which are hung in various parts of the church, bearing the arms of the deceased to whose memory they are placed, are said to be painted by one of the Randle Holmes, the distinguished herald artists. This noble church is horridly disfigured by huge galleries and unsightly pews, for the removal of which an effort is now making, as a prelude to a general restoration of the sacred edifice. The present vicar is the Rev. W. B. Marsden, M.A. [Picture: Chancel ruins of St. John’s Church, Chester] ST. PETER’S CHURCH. This church stands exactly in the centre of the city, where the four principal streets meet, and close to the ancient site of the high cross. It consists of a nave and side aisles, divided from each other by three pointed arches. “The span of the arches, and the height of the building,” says Ormerod, “are very disproportionate to the present size of the interior, and give it the appearance of being a fragment of a much larger building.” In a square tower on the south-west side are eight bells, cast in 1709, whereof six are a peal; on the treble is engraved, “When you ring, I’ll sing.” Pennant is of opinion, as we have before stated, that on this site formerly stood the Roman Prætorium. Tradition says that this church was built by Ethelfleda, Countess of Mercia, and that it was originally dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, at the time when the name of the “mother church” was changed to the Holy Trinity and St. Oswald. Bradshaw, the Monk, alluding thereto, says—