The Parish of Bishopstoke
The History of the Church in Bishopstoke
The parish of Bishopstoke has a recorded history going back to the tenth century.
The name ‘Stoke’ or ‘Stoches’ is interpreted as meaning a place situated on or near the river, containing a mill or a church. In the case of Bishopstoke this would seem accurate, with the River Itchen running through Bishopstoke and links with the Bishop of Winchester dating back to 964 AD
Through history there have been a number of Parish churches in Bishopstoke. The present church was opened in 1891 on a ‘new’ site in Church Road. The previous church built in 1825 and others before this stood on a site near the river. Records do exist listing the names of all the Rectors for Bishopstoke from around 1334.
No records exist for the old Saxon church. It is thought that it was destroyed when the Danes invaded Southampton (Hamtun) in 1001.
This drawing shows a church which stood on a site near the river prior to 1825. It appears to have had a wooden tower, dormer windows in the roof, and steps leading up to an entrance above ground floor. This church fell into disrepair and was demolished to make room for a new in 1825.
The church built in 1825 was constructed of brick and flint with a slate roof. It had Gothic windows and a tower with four pinnacles. Inside it had stained glass and seated 270.
A combination of Bishopstoke’s growing population and the need for a more extensive burial ground prompted the construction of the present church. St Mary’s was built during 1890/91 by Wheeler Bros. of Reading at a cost of £4,200 and was consecrated on the 12th November 1891 by the Bishop of Guildford.
In addition to St Mary’s, in 1962 St Paul’s Church was opened to serve the needs of Bishopstoke’s growing population which now stands at about 10,000.
A comprehensive booklet has been produced giving the history of the Church in Bishopstoke. This is available from St Mary’s at a cost of £2.50. Alternatively you can download a copy of it in PDF form by clicking on the link below.
History of St. Mary's
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