In October 2009, Bill Barlow, a churchwarden of St Chad’s Church, Hanmer, accepted the presentation of a lead pot from Reg Meredith of Bettisfield. The pot was made by Revd Frederick Barry-Roberts M.A, Curate at Hanmer at the time of the ‘Great Fire’ of 3rd February 1889 in Hanmer Church. It was made by Revd Roberts using the lead from the church roof and windows that had melted in the fire and ran to the floor in large puddles of molten lead. Revd Roberts later became Vicar of Bettisfield.

The ‘tea caddy’ pot is inscribed,
Hanmer Church,
Burnt Down,
Feb 3 1889

The pot is 10cm diameter and 9cm tall, with the lid and iron handle taking it to 14cm tall. The pot weighs 2.479 kg, whilst the lid is 0.637 kg, making a total of 3.116 kg (6lb14oz). Its manufacture is clearly the work of an enthusiastic amateur. Experts at a local metalworks have reported that from its texture they think that several trace elements are present in the lead. It is interesting to speculate that it was made by Revd Roberts with the help of one of the smithies at Hanmer or Bettisfield.

Revd Roberts gave the pot to his friend, the grandfather of Mr Meredith. On the reverse side are his initials J.M.

The pot is a remarkable link in the heritage of the church of St Chad’s, Hanmer. Its survival is astonishing and its return to Hanmer is a great joy. There are two other simalar heritage items on dispaly in St Chad’s Church. A piece of one of the bells which fell to the ground in the ;Great Fire’ was returned by the Griffiths family in 1996. And a piece of the carved wood of the north ceiling was returned by Catherine Barlow of Ellesmerea at the time of the Millennium Exhibition in St Chad’s Church.

St Chad’s Church Hanmer is part of the Open Church Network of the Wrexham area in North East Wales. The churches of the network are open daily and all have presentations of their heritage and faith. St Chad’s is noted for the marriage of Owain Glyndwr to Margaret Hanmer in about 1383. The church has Kempe windows, carved woodwork, and in the churchyard that stretches down to Hanmer Mere is an and ancient preaching cross. St Chad’s Church is open from about 9:30am till dusk each day, and is located off the A539, Grid Reference SJ456395, Post Code SY 13 3DE.