St. Mary’s is a rectory, in the gift of the Marquis of Westminster. The present rector is the Rev. C. Boween, M.A. There are Sunday evening lectures in this church, under the patronage of the Bishop of the diocese. They are supported by annual subscriptions, aided by collections in the church. ST. BRIDGET’S CHURCH. The old church of St. Bridget, or St. Bride (now removed), was situate on the west side of Bridge-street, exactly opposite to St. Michael’s. There exists no correct data on which to ascertain the time of its foundation, which tradition attributes to Offa, King of Mercia, who reigned in the end of the eighth century, about which time we are told that several churches were founded in Chester. There is, however, clear evidence, from writings among the Harleian MSS., that in the twelfth century the patronage of this church belonged to the Lords of Aldford, by one of whom, in 1224, it was quitclaimed to Randle Blundeville. From another writing it appears that, in 1265, Simon, Abbot of St. Werburgh, in consideration of certain grants and donations, made to him by Bertram de Arneway, bound himself to maintain a chaplain to say mass for the soul of John Arneway, before the altar of the Virgin in St. Bridget’s Church. This church was formerly surrounded by a wall, which encroached considerably upon Bridge-street, and the ground between this wall and the church was used as a burying-place; but in 1785 the bodies were removed to a piece of ground on the south of the church, and the street widened. The church walls were refaced with freestone, and other repairs made at the same time. A gateway formerly crossed the street between St. Bridget’s and St. Michael’s churches, dividing higher from lower Bridge-street. The old church of St. Bridget was taken down in 1827, under the provisions of the New Bridge Act, in order to improve the approach into the city, and the new church was erected on the north-west side of the castle. The ceremony of laying the foundation stone was performed by the Right Rev. C. J. Blomfield, then Lord Bishop of the diocese. The length is about 90 feet, and the width 50, and the church is calculated to contain 1,000 persons. “It is rather a remarkable circumstance,” says Hemingway, “that although St. Bridget’s parish is wholly within the city, the ground occupied by the church and cemetery is neither within the parish nor the city, but altogether within the county palatine; but by a clause in the act, it is enacted, that after the consecration, it shall ‘for all purposes, and to all intents whatsoever, be deemed part of, and situated within the said parish of St. Bridget, and within the said city of Chester.’” The Rev. G. Salt, M.A., is the present incumbent. ST. MICHAEL’S CHURCH