A Church with Danson Memories

St. Chad's Church in springtime - a photograph taken by my Uncle, Harry Rawcliffe  Danson

Other photographs are from my own family collection

St. Chad’s Church, Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire  is at the heart of my family history, as Dansons were baptised, married and buried there down the generations from John Danson, born 1736, son of Peter. My parents married at St. Chad's in 1938 , my father sang in the choir and my brother and I were baptised there.

Tradition dates back the church to 669. It was dedicated to St. Chad, a Northumbrian missionary who became bishop of York and then bishop of Mercia.  In 1349 the Black Death struck, with the vicar of Poulton amongst those succumbing to the plague. Registers date from 1591, with the oldest part of the present church, the Tower dating from before 1638. A major rebuilding took place around 1751.



John Danson's daughter Jennet married John Brining, whose family boxed pew,   dated 1778,  is in the  gallery.

Margaret Danson married into the Brownbill family of clockmakers,  responsible in 1865 for the new tower clock 

The War Memorial  includes the name of George Danson, my great uncle, killed in 1916 on the Somme. 

Inside St. Chad's.  I was baptised here. 

Wedding of my parents
John Weston & Kathleen Danson (left)
with Edith Danson & Charles Weston

Although I moved away from Poulton when I was 13 years old, St. Chad's Church remains a fond place in my memory.   I recall my recent last visit in springtime when bell ringers were practising and the carpet of crocuses covered tthe churchyard -  a beautiful part of my heritage.  

Copyright © 2010 · Susan Donaldson.  All Rights Reserved