Very little is known about St. Mary's in the 18th century. Perhaps during the 'age of reason' they had other things to think about.

One interesting object in the church from this period is the large oak chest in the south corner of the chancel.

This huge iron-bound oak chest was made in the first year of the reign of Queen Anne, to hold valuable documents and, possibly, church plate. It is believed to have been made from local oak. The front of the chest has the date 1702 deeply carved into it as well as the initials 'IB' and 'TH'. These were the churchwardens of that period - John Boles and Thomas Harris. The letter 'I' is in fact the old way of writing the letter 'J'.

During its long career the chest once found itself being used for a less dignified purpose.

When the Reverend Frank Taylor arrived in 1908, he found the chest was being used as a coal bunker for the church boiler. I am pleased to say that the chest is now used to store more appropriate objects such as altar cloths.

During the same year the vicar of the time, Richard Adrian, also had two new bells hung which carried the inscriptions - 'HARK DOE YE HEARE OVR CLAPERES WANT BEERE' and 'QUANTVM AVFFIIFIT BIBIERE VOLO CLANCVLA VOS A MVSICA TONE' - which roughly translated means - 'When You Have Drunk Enough I Will Call You By My Musical Tone'. This drinking theme may relate to the celebrations on the coronation of Queen Anne.

Adrian may have commissioned the chest and two bells to commemorate this occasion.

	In the church tower is stored a unique 18th century 'call change' post. It is a fascinating object which bears the date of 1778 deeply carved into its base. It stands over five feet high and originally stood in the centre of the tower base, so enabling each ringer to see the bell-ringing sequence carved into each of its four sides.
	The characters carved into this oak post number 248 in all, and follow a method known as the 'Double Canterbury Minimus'. So that these sequences can be more easily seen, the post has a hole in the top in which a candle could be placed to give illumination to it. The post also bears the name of the churchwarden of the time, one Charles Deeming, who was also a farmer in the parish. It also carries the name of R. Smith, who may also have been a churchwarden or perhaps village overseer.

We find through parish records that there was a certain amount of restoration on the church in the 18th century.

The roof of the south aisle was re-laid with sheet lead and. embossed in the lead, was the following inscription:

This was later removed and has long since disappeared. The south aisle is now covered with Polymur.

Another instance is mentioned in 1797 when the banns of those to be married were read in Stoke Church, as Sowe was under repair. Since 1778 Stoke and Sowe had been United Benefices under the vicar of Sowe.

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