A Change of Patron - 1692 to 1716

The Norbury estate had been held by the Hyde family since 1220. But they suffered a number of misfortunes and in 1692 the young Edward Hyde, who was later to be the first Governor of North Carolina, sold the estate to the Legh's of Lyme. ⁽³⁾

During the next twenty years Peter Legh, the new Lord of the manor, was active in building a new manor house to replace the old black and white hall which had fallen into disrepair. He also built a new chapel on the site of the old half timbered one. The original structure had been little used since what had become known as the "Jollie affair," and the rector of Stockport had withdrawn his financial support of £6 per annum.

The new chapel was a low brick building, large enough to hold a seated congregation of 170/180 people. Around it was a large flagged yard, enclosed with a brick wall.

About the same time John Warren ⁽⁴⁾ of Poynton rebuilt the chapel near to his manor house in the park. Poynton was in the very large parish of Prestbury, and Norbury was in the parish of Stockport. Neither township had a population or finances to warrant a full time incumbent. The two land owners agreed to appoint the same curate to each of their chapels, if their respective rectors would approve of the appointments.

So when the Bishop of Chester (Francis Gastrell D.D.) visited the Stockport parish in 1720 he noted that:

The chappell at Norbury, which is a low brick building, has no certain maintenance for a minister, only voluntary contributions of about £8.10 shillings of which £4 by Mr Legh of Lime, the rest by the inhabitants of Norburie and the adjacent village of Pointon.

The same curate serves Norburie and Pointon, which are but half a mile distant, yet in different parishes, and have been a long while thus united.

Surplice fees of both chappells about £l.

Tis reported ye rector of Stockporte formerly allowed £6.13.4 but this has not been paid for 50 years past.

The chappell is in good repair at ye charge of Mr Legh of Lime who names the curate.

An alabaster font is in the chappell and children are baptised by the curate there. but the sacrament of the Lords Supper is never administered.

There is a handsome chappell yard, fenced about with a brick wall; but no burying in it."

There is one important item which the bishop did not mention and of which he was perhaps unaware. When the Hyde family owned the estate they allotted the chapel field and meadow to the curate. He could therefore grow enough food to sustain himself and his family. Peter Legh, however, annexed these fields to a nearby farm. In compensation a clause in the tenancy stated that the occupier "must sustain the curate at all times." Thus the curate's income might be uncertain but at least he would not go short of food.

The mention by the bishop of surplice fees reminds us that marriages took place in the chapel until the Hardwicke Marriage Act of 1754 forced them to take place at the parish church at Stockport.

In 1716 Peter Legh had the chapel accepted back into the parish of Stockport and from that time we can follow the succession of incumbents.

⁽³⁾ Legh family of Lyme: On their elevation to the peerage they assumed the title of Newton.

⁽⁴⁾ Warren family of Paynton: On their elevation to the Peerage they assumed the title of Vernon. They were the patrons of the living of St. Mary's Stockport.