St. John’s Church was the site of the first Cathedral in Chester. The Eastern chapels and transepts were abandoned after the dissolution in 1102 and a new East wall was built which left the ruins of the old East end standing outside. This hugely reduced the size of the church meaning the parishioners had a much easier upkeep job. A coffin bearing the inscription “Dust to Dust” which was found by the Sexton in the 19th Century is set into the wall of the ruins.
