St Stephen's Church, Astley

The first chapel, built and paid for by Adam Mort, a wealthy owner of Damhouse, who died in early 1631. The chapel was consecrated on August 3 of that same year by the Bishop of Chester. It was the first chapel of ease of the mother church of Leigh, and dedicated to St Stephen, the first Christian martyr. The chapel was built of local brick on part of the common. Reverend Thomas Crompton, appointed by Thomas Mort, became the first minister in 1632. The original chapel, constructed from local brick on part of the common, served the community for nearly 130 years until it was rebuilt after becoming dilapidated. In 1760, the first chapel was replaced by a slightly larger structure built on the…