Bruera, Cheshire Genealogy

[[Image:St_Mary_Church_Bruera.jpg|thumb|right|Bruera St Mary]]History
Bruera St Mary is now an ecclesiatical parish on the site of a former ancient chapel to Chester St Oswalds. It was created as a parish in 1868.

The settlement of Bruera is not recorded in the Domesday Book and the first mention of the church is in the Chartulary of St Werburgh's Abbey, Chester dating from around 1150. It was then a chapel in the parish of St Oswald's, Chester. Raymond Richards claims that the church was in existence in Saxon times but this is disputed by other historians The fabric of the present church dates from the Norman period and there have been a number of additions and restorations since. The Norman south doorway was rebuilt in the 14th century. Also in the 14th century and later windows were modified and in the 15th century a south chapel was added. A major restoration was carried out in 1896 by W. M. Boden at expense of the 1st Duke of Westminster involving the south porch and vestry, and a belfry was added.

Church Records
Parish registers for Bruera, 1657-1949 Bruera is a chapelry in Chester St. Oswald parish. Cheshire Record Office reference: P24/1-2, P24/3193/1/1-2, P24/3193/2, P24/4881/1, P24/5327

An index for Cheshire parish registers is available online in Record Search

Bishop's transcripts for Bruera, 1666-1884 The chapelry of Bruera is located in the parish of St. Oswald Chester. Cheshire Record Office reference: EDB 36.

An index for Cheshire, Church of England, Bishop’s Transcripts (Diocese of Chester) is available online in Record Search

Poor Law Unions

 * Great Boughton (1837–71)     http://www.institutions.org.uk/workhouses/england/ches/great_broughton_workhouse.htm
 * Tarvin (1871–1930)

Registration Districts

 * Great Boughton (1837–69)
 * Chester (1870–1937)
 * West Cheshire (1937–74)
 * Chester and Ellesmere Port (1974–98)
 * Cheshire West (post 1998) registration events may be searched online at Cheshire BMD