St.Mary's Church Birkenhead

The Rev. CANON Andrew KNOX
of Birkenhead.
1797 Londonderry, Ireland -1881 Birkenhead Cheshire.

In connection with the recent restoration of St. Mary's Church, Birkenhead, a handsome massive tablet has, within the last few days, been placed under the window in the north transept to the memory of the late Rev. Canon Knox and of Mrs. Knox, his wife. Canon Knox, it is well known, was vicar of St. Mary's for about half a century, and during his long residence in Birken­head his name was closely associated with every movement calculated to promote the social, moral, and religious condition of the inhabitants. Since his decease the church and burial ground have been restored at a cost of upwards of £3000, and the adjoining schools in Priory-Street have also been greatly enlarged. The whole of this Work was undertaken and completed as a "Knox memorial," and the Restoration Committee (of which Mr. William Laird was chairman) determined still further to commemorate the memory of their old and revered pastor by the erection of a monument in the church in which he had ministered so long and successfully. This latter work has been executed by Messrs, Earp, Son, and Hobbs, London and Manchester, from the design of Mr. Charles Aldridge, architect, Liverpool, from whose plans the restoration of the sacred edifice was also carried out. The tablet, which is of polished marble and alabaster, is of large dimensions, and very artistically designed, and has sculptured on the upper portion of it a capital likeness of Canon Knox as he appeared a year or two before his-death. On each side of the tablet there is the coat-of-arras of the Rev. Canon Knox and of Mrs. Knox, and underneath it the following inscription in old English characters:

"In memory of the Rev ANDREW KNOX, B.A.,Vicar of Birkenhead and Honorary Canon of Chester Cathedral, and. of his wife Katherine, this tablet is erected. Andrew Knox came to Birkenhead, as curate in charge of St. Mary's, in 1828 ; was appointed incumbent in 1834, and laboured here for 53 years. He found in his wife a loving and devoted helper. She fell asleep in Jesus May 29, 1868, aged 69 years. During his incumbency the rural township of Birkenhead was incorporated with Tranmere, Oxton, and part of Bebington first as a parliamentary, then as a municipal borough. with a population of 80,000. The public spirit and Christian charity with which he promoted everything tending to the advancement of his fellow-townsmen, as well as the extension of churches and schools, won for him the respect and affection of all classes. A firm friend, ready to advise and willing to sympathise, he lived his life truly, did his work thoroughly, and now he rests in. peace. 'With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation!—Psalm.
xci., 16." The tablet also states that the Rey.Canon Knox was born on the 8th July, 1797 ; that
he was vicar of Birkenhead from 1834 to 1881 and that he died on the 12th October, 1881.

"Reported in the Liverpool Mercury, Saturday November 17th 1883, Issue 11185"