SEPHTON, a parish in the hundred of WEST-DERBY,
county palatine of LANCASTER, comprising the
chapelry of Great Crosby, and the townships of Aintree,
Little Crosby, Ince-Blundell, Litherland, Lunt, Netherton,
Orrell with Ford, Sephton, and Thornton, and containing
3433 inhabitants, of which number, 389 are in
the township of Sephton, 7 miles (N.) from Liverpool.
The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese
of Chester, rated in the king's books at £30. 1. 8., and
in the patronage of the Rev. R. R. Rothwell. The
church, dedicated to St. Helen, was rebuilt in the
reign of Henry VIII., by the Rev. Anthony Molyneaux,
a distinguished preacher, then rector; it is principally
in the later style of English architecture, with a lofty
spire; the interior is remarkably elegant, the chancel in
particular, which is separated from the nave by a magnificent
screen, and contains sixteen richly-sculptured
stalls, with numerous monuments of the family of Molyneaux,
of whom Sir William fought and performed signal
acts of valour under the banner of the Black Prince, at
Navaret, as did Sir Richard in the battle of Agincourt,
and another Sir William in that of Flodden Field. This
place confers the title of earl on their descendants.