This is a lovely little village with its church standing in a field where once a manor house stood.  The position of the church suggests that the house stood to the west of the path that now leads to the church.

Near the River Dever were the manor fishponds and the artificially levelled stretch of land to the west of the church was probably laid out in medieval days for archery and jousting practice.

The manor house fell into ruin and was demolished c. 1730. The house had been vacated by the last lord of the manor of Stoke Charity, Sir James Phelyppes. The Phelyppes supported the Royalist cause in the civil war and Sir James subsequently went to Ireland, where he died in 1690.

St Mary and St Michael's church from the village pond

The view from the churchyard at Stoke Charity		A view of Stoke Charity
Views of the interior of St Mary's and St Michaels showing the large tombs some which go back to the 15th century

HISTORY OF ST MARY's AND ST MICHAELS's