St Laurence Church, Frodsham Parish

St. Laurence Church has played an intimate part in the lives of our ancestors. The records there hold many births, baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials. Quite a number of our ancestors are buried there and through recent research I was able to visit their graves.

The oldest known ancestor buried there is Thomas Pickering [b. 1765] who died 1814. His entire family is buried in a grave described ad "Sandstone table-top".

The inscription reads: "Sacred to the memory of Thomas Pickering late of Frodsham Bridge who departed this life Jan 2nd 1814 aged 49 years. Also Margaret daughter of the said Thomas and Margaret Pickering who died April 24th 1813 aged 14 years. Also Edmund their son died 11th March 1814 aged 11 months.

Also Thomas their son who died Jan 25th 1818 aged 15 years. Also of Margaret wife of the above named Thomas Pickering who died July 9th 1820 aged 48 years. Also of Ann daughter of Thomas and Margaret Pickering who died 24th Dec. 1822 aged 26 years."

On my research trip to St Laurence in April of 2011, I was able to view only a limited number of graves because so many of them were flat, sandstones many of which were paving a path that abutted the church wall. From hundreds of years of weather and trodding, the stones were either no longer readable, or in most cases the grass had grown over the stones and were not even visible.

The srping season was a perfect backdrop for this ancient churchyard during my visit. The cherry trees and spring flowers played beautifully against the dark backdrop of this ancient church and headstones. The photos on the the right are a lovely reminder of my visit to St Laurence, Frodsham Parish, Cheshire, England.

Connie Pickering Stover
April 2011