Whitchurch

St. Chad’s Church, Hanmer and the Hanmer - le Strange Family Connection

The Hanmer Sword

Interesting little story from my Mother, (dau. of Viola le Strange) upon entering the Church in 1990’s she saw a ‘le Strange’ sword mounted on the church wall. Sir John Hanmer had exhibited his ancestral sword in the millennium exhibition so this may well have been it. It was said to have been used by an ancestor of his in Ireland, possibly Londonderry. It had been in the church since the 19th century and rescued, damaged after the 1889 fire. Sir John’s heirloom remains in his Family today.

St. Chad’s Church, Hanmer, Whitchurch - Graveyard

Le Strange Tomb?

There is a tomb on south outside of St. Chad’s Church wall dubiously attributed as a le Strange ancestor. The tomb has inverted candles which indicates the end of a family line.

One le Strange Lord of this Marcher area directed the rebuild of St. Chad’s Church after the 1463 destruction by John Howard. The Lords associated with the Church are the 6th, 7th, and 8th le Strange Lords of Knockin. The 8th Lord, was married to Jacquetta Woodville, so he will probably have been in charge of that area during the rebuild.