Chronological History of St. Mary's

1086 to 1145
Sowe Chapel built. Masons carved font.
1221
First mention of chapel on document of Pope Honorius III.
William of the cemetery (possibly priest) had a house in the churchyard.
1260
Sowe Chapel taken possession of by Coventry Priory.
1279
Chapel and tithes in the hands of the Prior of Coventry. Sowe Chapel demolished.
1300+
The nave of the present church built. Original south aisle built.
1349
The Peytos of Chesterton inherited the manor.
Coventry glass carrying their arms inserted in the south aisle of the church.
Oak studded door installed in south aisle.
1350+
Black death halts building work.
Chancel built on nave. Piscina, Rood loft and scratch dial added.
1450+
Tower built in two stages.
Archers used the stone of the tower to sharpen their arrows.
Cup hollows on tower believed to cure sickness.
1535
John Aston, priest, held Sowe and Wyken.
1550
North aisle built.
1551
Inventory made of church goods.
Bell sold to help finance re-building of the south aisle.
1558 to 1603
Silver chalice and paten acquired.
Rood Loft removed. New chancel arch inserted.
1608
John Aston died.
George Dale becomes new chaplain of Sowe.
Dale's dispute with Francis Peyto over vicarage.
Trees planted around churchyard to mark boundary.
1623
Church restored and re-seated.
1624
Brick south porch built.
1629
Bell installed carrying inscription 'God have mercy upon me'.
1635
Vicarage extended.
1641
Dale fines at Epiphany Sessions.
1642
Dale ridiculed in Coventry by Parliamentarian soldiers.
1644
George Dale died.
1645
William Malin new vicar.
1669
Livings of Sowe and Stoke held as joint benefices by Malin.
1678
William Malin died.
1679
Robert Marriott new chaplain.
1680
Clock installed in tower.
1686
All burials made in wool to help the wool trade.
1695
Robert Marriott died.
1696
Richard Adrian first vicar.
1697
Everyone getting married, paid 2/6d to the King.
1702
Church wardens' chest and two of the largest bells made.
1715
Death of Richard Adrian.
Richard Marsden new vicar.
1718
First Wale family memorial erected.
Marsden holds the post of Headmaster of Coventry Free School.
1720
Richard Marsden died.
Samuel Presland new vicar.
1726
A marble memorial installed to the memory of William and Margery Wale.
1740
Walsgrave appears in the church records for the first time.
1750
Samuel Presland buried in Shropshire.
Richard Lowe new vicar.
1756
During enclosure award, Lowe received an allotment of 37 acres to replace tithe land lost, plus 2 acres to replace tithes worth £2.
1762
Richard Lowe died, was buried at Berkswell.
1763
David Williams new vicar.
1767
David Williams died.
Mathew Thomas new vicar.
1772
Richard Kilsha new vicar.
1775

Inventory made of church goods. Tithe payments consisted of apples, pigs, eggs, turkeys, geese, honey, flax, milk and hay.
Vicar was paid for straying animals, 1d per cow and calf, and 2d for every mare or foal.
The vicar was paid 9d per funeral and christening.

1777
Richard Kilsha resigned.
1778
George Champagne new vicar.
Both Sowe and Stoke held as united benefices.
Bell ringers call-change post made
Sowe benefice worth an annual income of £80.
1781
Memorial erected to the memory of William and Elizabeth Wale.
1794
South aisle re-roofed and the lead embossed.
1797
St Mary's under repair, services held at Stoke.
1805
Gallery erected.
1817
George Champagne died.
Frederick D. Perkins new vicar.
1822
Gallery enlarged, vestry built onto north aisle.
The Pemberton Window installed in the chancel.
1828
Perkins becomes a magistrate.
Church closed for repairs.
1829
Church re-pewed, seating increased from 130 to 296.
1830
Perkins has hymn book for children published.
1834
Perkins in court facing charges of corruption and conspiracy, case dismissed.
1836
Perkins becomes active member of the Foleshill Board of Guardians and occasionally, Presiding Guardian.
1837
Perkins became a founder member of Walsgrave Church of England School.
1841
Memorial erected in chancel to George Curtis .
1845
Perkins health in decline.
1850
Tablet erected in chancel to the memory of John Brown M.A.
1855
Memorial erected to Rev John Perkins and Bridget, his wife.
1856
John Perkins died. Inquest held at 'The Shoulder of Mutton' in Hall Lane.
Robert Arrowsmith new vicar.
1860
Arrowsmith opened Hawkesbury School and Iron Church for mining families.
1863
Brass memorial to William Wale Brown and Charlotte Brown installed
1864 - 1866
Church restored under the direction of G.E.Street.
New organ installed; cost £60.
1877
Bell ringing chime barrel installed in the tower .
1884
Robert Arrowsmith retires due to ill health.
Separation of benefices of Sowe and Stoke.
Phillip Ellis new vicar.
1890
Nativity Window inserted in chancel.
Walsgrave burial scandal, the law regarding the burial of unbaptised children changed in Parliament.
1900
George Fisher new vicar.
1907
A brass eagle lectern installed in the memory of Maria and Francis Campion.
1908
George Fisher dies while away from his benefice.
Frank Taylor new vicar.
Norman capital of Sowe Chapel found in the churchyard and placed in church.
1913
Watson Window and Madonna and Child Window inserted in north aisle.
1925
Frank Taylor died.
W.S.Bowden new vicar.
1936
L.E.Comley new vicar.
Pemberton Window removed for safe-keeping from war damage, the window is lost.
1945
R.S.Watson new vicar.
1947
S.Strading new vicar.
1950
W.J.Moxon new vicar.
1951
Gravestones re-sited and churchyard leveled.
1953
War memorial plaque placed in north aisle.
Altar, made from stone taken from Magpie Hall (now demolished), placed in Lady Chapel.
1957
H.Jones new vicar.
Memorial tablet to Albert Orton set into chancel floor.
1958
New east chancel window inserted in memory of Albert William Orton.
1964
C.W.Danes new vicar.
1965
E.S.Sketchley new vicar.
1973
A.V.Longworth new vicar.
1975
G.Botting, his period as vicar of Walsgrave was sadly cut short as a result of a tree felling accident. Memorial in the north aisle.
1976
Andrew K.Tuck new vicar.
1980
New heating installed.
1981
New Church Centre opened by the Bishop of Coventry.
Lighting re-furbished.
1982
Church interior modernised. New floors laid; redecorated and re-furbished under Y.O.P. scheme.
1983
Organ gallery installed by members of Y.T.S.scheme.
Hill organ of 1850 installed after being rebuilt.
Old Altar removed from Lady Chapel (south aisle).
New Altar and aumbry, designed by John Skelton, installed.
1984
Bells, re-cast and re-hung in steel frame, rang for the first time for 40 years.
Wood carving of Mary and Jesus carved by the Reverend Roger Paul, presented to the church.
1985 - 1986
Church tower restored, time capsule placed in the base. 17th century clock mechanism restored and new clock face placed on the tower. North aisle restored.
A village fair known as 'Sowe Wake' held in the churchyard for, possibly, the first time since the beginning of the 19th century.
1987
Church walls and south aisle restored under an M.S.C.Community Programme.

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