In 1552 there is a reference to 'St Elyn's chapel' being very small and 'consisting only of a 'challis and a lytle bell.' This was a 'chapel of ease' for travellers from Prescot to Warrington.

1816 - The church, located on Church Street at St Helens was enlarged and became known as St Mary’s. The burial ground was opened.

1858 - The current St Helens Cemetery opened. It was sometimes referred to as the Windleshaw Cemetery and is now known as the St Helens Borough Cemetery.

1861 - The burial ground at St Mary’s Church (formerly St Helens Church) was closed by an order-in-council.

1868 - St Helens was granted a Municipal Charter. The five original townships were Eccleston, Hardshaw, Parr, Sutton and Windle. Parts of Eccleston and Windle remained outside the Borough and under the jurisdiction of Lancashire County.

1916 - St Helens Parish Church burned down. The congregation worshipped at the Town Hall for ten years.

1926 - The present parish church was consecrated and the name reverted back to St. Helen.

1970 - Graves at the parish church were uncovered and removed to St Helens Borough Cemetery. What exists now now is a large plot at St Helens cemetery which contains the remains of everyone from the Parish church. It's plot 17/18, apart from the odd Armed Forces stone all that's there to indicate the burials is a stone plinth reading, "Within this plot lie the remains of persons formerly laid to rest in the burial ground of the Parish church of St.Helen and reinterred in December 1970."

Map Courtesy of Liverpool & SW Lancs FHS

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