St Thomas Becket's Church, Chapel en le Frith

In 1225, the foresters of the Royal Forest were given permission by the Earl of Derby to build a chapel of ease to the Mother Church at Hope. The chapel was dedicated to St Thomas à Becket, and around a century later, it became the parish church.

Or, as recorded in White's Directory of 1857: “A chapel was originally built here by the inhabitants, and consecrated by Bishop Savensby, between the years 1224 and 1238. By a record of the year 1317, it was then deemed a parish church.”

(Information provided by Janet Kirk/Rosemary Lockie)