Eccles nr. Manchester

The font of the original 14th-century church of St. Mary has disappeared. The Victoria County History (Lancaster, vol. 4, 1911) notes: "The whole of the east end of the church has been rebuilt in modern times, but west of the chancel arch the building, except the tower and south aisle, is of early 16th-century date with some traces of 14th-century work at the entrance to the rebuilt south transept. The tower belongs to the 15th century, and possibly incorporates in its lower stage the masonry of an older structure. The earliest parts of the building are the responds of the arch to the south transept in St. Katherine's Chapel, which are of 14th-century date, and may belong to the year 1368, when the chapel was founded. These form the only remaining fragment of a church which probably consisted of a chancel with north chapel and nave with south aisle, to which this chantry was added. [...] The fittings, including the font and the pulpit, are all modern, dating principally from 1862–3 and subsequent years."