St. Mary's Centre, Chester

St Mary's Centre, formerly the Church of St Mary-on-the-Hill in Chester, stands at the top of St Mary's Hill. In the 1970s the church was converted into an educational centre. It is currently available for use as a concert and exhibition venue and the Chester Music Society hold many concerts there throughout the year. For the last few years, the centre has been the venue for the final exhibition of work by sixth-form art students at Chester Catholic High School. The original church on the site was Norman and it served the castle.

The present church dates from the 14th and 15th centuries. The south chapel was built around 1443 and was owned by the Earl of Shrewsbury. It was damaged in 1645 during the Civil War and collapsed in 1661. It was rebuilt in 1693. During the Jacobite rebellion of 1745 the upper stage of the tower was demolished by Lord Cholmondeley in order to provide a clear line of fire. The church was restored in 1861–62 by James Harrison and in 1890–92 by J. P. Seddon. The north porch was rebuilt in 1892 in memory of Randle Holme III. The aisle roofs were rebuilt in the 1930s.