Then & Now

1940-2023 St Peters Church, Aston. Built as a chapel of ease to Runcorn parish in 1637 on the site of its century-old predecessor, the chapel was refurnished and restored by Sir Thomas Aston, the 1st Baronet of the adjacent Aston Estate which once oversaw the entirety of this small hamlet until it was largely dissolved around 1950. There are very few images of the church from throughout its extremely long stint of service. This archive image taken around 1940-1941 shows the church badly damaged by a land mine on 28 November 1940 when destruction was caused to the roof and the interior of the church. The roof was eventually replaced but the church was still unusable and services were held elsewhere, apart from a few open air weddings inside the hollowed out chancel. It remained derelict until restoration completed in June 1950 on behalf of Wright & Hamlyn, and it was awarded the prestige of Grade I listed status in 1970, making it one of the most valued historic structures along with Halton Castle & Norton Priory. In the graveyard are also several protected graves and tombstones that have been given Grade II protection. Today the church operates on behalf of the diocese of Chester, under the Deanery of Great Budworth. The vicar is Rev Dr Collette Jones, serving the parish of Aston-by-Sutton.