Hylton's Chantrie, was later known as the Wilton Chapel, and was founded by Ellis Hylton, Esq. The founder's name does not appear in the pedigree of Hultons of Farnworth & Hulton (west of Bolton), and all that has been discovered of him is that his name occurs in a brief list of Lancashire Grand Jurymen "all being justices of the peace," in the reign of Henry VIII (1509-1547).

This chantry had escaped the scrutiny of the Commissioners of Henry VIII, but was discovered by the Commissioners of Edward VI (1547-1553). It was then of recent foundation. The name of the chantry priest was Thomas Dobson, and in 1553 he received a pension of £ 4 10s. 2d. A pre-reformation Aumbry remains to this day set in one of the stone pillars of the chantry, indicating there would once have been an altar nearby.

The earliest surviving church register entry for the Hilton family is the baptism of Johes Hilton, son of Arthuri in 1605.

The records also show that there were several Hilton families using St Mary's for burials or baptisms in the following years (Johis, Francisci, Thomae) , but in 1610 we find the marriage of the curate of Prestwich, Martyn Sydebothom to Joana Hilton.

The earliest record at St Mary's of Hilton Lane as an abode was in 1630 with the recordings of Maria Hulton, born to Francisci, and Sicilia , born to Thomae Hulton.

St Mary's also records that Thomas was a churchwarden between 1648-1651, and again in 1670 (possibly his son). The churchwardens' accounts record that in 1655 £00.16.08 was received "of the wife of George Hulton ffor swearing and other misdemeanour"

In 1665 Andrew Hilton was paid £00.02.03 "ffor three yards of linnen cloth for two shirts for John Johnson.That same year £00.01.00 was paid "ffor a midwife to Ann Hilton". (Ann baptised a child, outsdide of wedlock, called Marya on the 19th June 1665). This child seems to still have been looked after by the church in 1675 when £0.02.0 was paid for "goeing to Ratchdale six times to get money to meintene Ann Hilton child " A further indication of the Hulton familiy standing is shown in 1676, when "Andrew Hultons man" was paid 2 pence for killing a "hedge-hogge".

In 1677 £0.10.0 was paid to Jo. Woosman "ffor a quarters table of Nan Hilton lad". A quarter was a unit of measure for wine, ale and grain and equalled 8 bushels of 8 gallons, so maybe this "table" was used for measuring as part of the tythe collections. The next year £0.08.01 was paid to Thomas Hulton for "setting up ye horseing stone and ffor poynteing about the church".