Plemstall Church: Difference between revisions

[[File:4RHA1 Windows in Chester Cathederal.jpg|left|thumb|412x412px|''<small>Windows in Chester Cathederal St Plegmund (right) and King Alfred the Great (left)</small>'']]

From medieval times parts of both Hoole and Newton were in the ecclesiastical parish of Plemstall. In the 9th century AD it is alleged that a hermit called Plegmund lived on the “Isle of Chester” located on marshland near the River Gowy, which was prone to flooding. He was a learned man, a scholar and a man of god. Local people visited him to receive a blessing. King Alfred sent for him to become one of his spiritual advisors and he was eventually appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, travelling to Rome at least twice.

 

 

 

Plegmund spent much of his time writing and he crowned Alfred’s son, Edward the Elder. A coin with his image was minted. Plegmund gave his name to the area, abbreviated from various spellings including Plegmundstall, Pleymondstowe and Plymston. It became a revered piece of land containing a holy well.

St. Peter’s Church was erected there and was rebuilt as the present church in the 15th century in the late perpendicular style, containing a chancel screen made soon after 1422 in the memory of William de Trafford. Why St. Peter’s? Even earlier than Plegmund is the story that in the 7th century a sailor adrift on a raft came ashore on the Isle of Chester, and built a church there dedicated to St. Peter, the fisherman who walked on water.