And as the stonemason turned up to the sextonâs house to pick up the key, early on a summerâs morning, the clock struck four. The vibrations were too much for the tottering structure, and the church collapsed, leaving behind just a heap of rubble. The stonemason was glad he had not turned up a few minutes earlier. St Chad's Church. But while the events of 1788 reduced the impressive ancient church to a mangled wreck, it did pave the way for the distinctive circular building which is at the heart of the town today.