Bunbury, Cheshire Genealogy

History
BunburySt Boniface Cheshire is an Ancient Parish and includes Alpraham, Beeston, Calveley, Haughton, Wardle, Ridley, Spurstow, Tiverton, and Peckforton. From the eighth century a church has been on the site, initially a wooden Anglo-Saxon church. By 1135 a stone Norman church was present. The church was rebuilt in the decorated style in 1320. In 1385–86 Sir Hugh Calveley endowed it as a collegiate church, which resulted in more rebuilding: much of the existing structure dates from this time.A chantry chapel was added in 1527 by Sir Rauph Egerton of Ridley and nave galleries were added in the 1700s. From 1863–66, restoration work was done by Pennington and Bridgen when wall paintings, galleries, and box-pews were removed, the floor was tiled and a new roof constructed. In 1940 a land mine seriously damaged the church. The roof was replaced in 1950 by Marshall Sisson.

Its features include the Ridley chapel, the alabaster chest tomb of Sir Hugh Calveley and the tomb of Sir George Beeston. In the chancel is the alabaster chest tomb of Sir Hugh Calveley, surrounded by spiked railings. It is the earliest alabaster tomb in Cheshire. In the north wall of the sanctuary is the tomb of Sir George Beeston who was the commander of Dreadnought when it fought against the Spanish Armada. At this time he was aged 88, and he died at the age of 102.

Raymond Richards considers it is architecturally one of the most important examples of its period in Cheshire.Alec Clifton-Taylor includes it in his list of 'best' English parish churches.

Church Records
Parish registers for Bunbury, 1559-1953 Cheshire Record Office reference: P40/1/1-4, 2/1-5, 3/1-6, P40/3296/1-6, P40/5/1-3, P40/6.

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

Bishop's transcripts for Bunbury and Tilston-Fearnall, 1588-1868 Includes the Chapelry of Tilston-Fearnall, 1839-1868. Cheshire Record Office reference: EDB 38 An index for Cheshire, Church of England, Bishop’s Transcripts (Diocese of Chester) is available online in Record Search

Non-Conformist Churches

 * Bunbury, Trinity Methodist Chapel (Wesleyan). Built in 1806, rebuilt in 1868.
 * Bunbury, Methodist Chapel (Primitive). Built in 1876, closed in 1970.

Non-Conformist Records
Cheshire Record Office Reference EMS 23 Bunbury Primitive Methodist Chapel Registers1931-67, Various records1902-61 URL http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=017-ems23&amp;cid=0

Cheshire Record Office Reference EMS 297 Bunbury, Trinity Chapel Date 1834-1937 Administrative and financial records, records related to the Chapel buildings A chapel was built by the Wesleyan Methodists in 1806. In 1868 a new building was erected and the old one sold. 24 files RelatedMaterial For christenings 1839-1881 see EMC 16 4 2 (Tarporley circuit). URL http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=017-ems297&amp;cid=0

Poor Law Unions

 * Nantwich

Registration Districts

 * Nantwich (1837–1937)
 * Crewe (1937–74)
 * Congleton and Crewe (1974–88)
 * South Cheshire (1988–98)
 * Cheshire Central (post 1998)

registration events may be searched online at Cheshire BMD