[1] He was given these titles because of his generosity in paying wholly or largely for the building of some 12 chapels and three schools in the area of Runcorn, Widnes and the villages in north Cheshire.

His father, also called Thomas, had founded a profitable soap and alkali manufacturing business, Hazlehurst & Sons, in Runcorn in 1816.

During that time the business was run mainly by Charles, leaving Thomas to concentrate on religious matters.

[1] In addition he was frequently invited to lay the foundation stones for chapels and schools both locally and further afield.

In all he collected almost 100 of these tokens and displayed them with pride, mounted in a large wooden frame in the lounge of his home.