14 A HANDBOOK FOR SOUTHPORT. 



ally, the place was in the first instance under the priory of 

 Penwortham, near Preston. The church appears to have been 

 built at three different periods, the earliest assigned date being 

 1571. It stands upon the site of a still older church supposed 

 to date from the twelfth century. The earliest existing records 

 are a tombstone in the graveyard, dated 1577 ; and a register 

 for 1594. Inside the building there are three marble monu- 

 ments of interest : one, the work of Nollekens greatly ad- 

 mired for its artistic qualities to a member of the Hesketh 

 family. The same family is commemorated in the second 

 piece of sculpture ; the third was erected to the memory of 

 Thomas Fleetvvood, of Bank, who died in 1717. The Fleet- 

 woods (an old Staffordshire family) were the original patrons, 

 Edward Fleetwood presenting in 1684. The connection of 

 the Fleetwood and Hesketh families, as well known, is of 

 long standing. The memory of the late rector of North Meols, 

 the Rev. Charles Hesketh, above-mentioned, is widely cher- 

 ished, alike on account of his Christian character, his 

 benevolence to the poor, and the excellent use he made of 

 his varied opportunities as the rector of the parish for 44 

 years, and as an extensive landowner in the district. The 

 present rector is the Rev. C. Hesketh Knowlys. 



The Wesleyans have excellent chapels in Mornington-road, 

 Leyland-road, Duke-street, and Upper Aughton-road, Birk- 

 dale the majority of them very handsome. The Congrega- 

 tionalists are quite as well provided for in Chapel-street, 

 Portland-street, and Lord-street West. The Catholics have 

 a pretty building, dedicated to St. Marie, in Seabank-road, 

 erected in 1841 from designs by the elder Pugin, and enlarged 

 in 1875; with a second in Albert-road, Birkdale, dedicated 



