St Michael's Church, Stoke

An Australian acquaintance is researching her ancestors and would like to know if anyone has any information about "Horne's Aisle" in St. Michael's Church, Stoke, where there is, apparently, the Horne family stained glass window. She has other Coventry connections as previous relatives were married in Holy Trinity Church, Coventry, in 1749. Any clues would be appreciated. Thank you. Barry Page Goderich, Ontario, Canada

My mum was christened and married there, and her parents married and are buried there. I know the church has undergone major refurbishment in the last few years. The church has a website with a history section mentioning the stained glass windows but no mention of Horne I could spot scanning through. It did say one window was replaced after being vandalised in the 70's. St Michael's History There is a contact option on the left hand side.

Thank you for the link AD, fascinating info My grandfather is (apparently) buried there. It's reminded me to see if I can locate his resting place.

Hello AD. Many thanks for your response and the Weblink. This information will be very useful for my Australian acquaintance's research. Much appreciated. Barry

I was part of a team which recorded all the M I 's at Stoke St Michael's for the BMSGH (Birmingham and Midland Society for Genealogy and Heraldry) many years ago, so they should have all the inscriptions on file, together with a plan of the churchyard. BMSGH may also have furnished a copy to the church for their use.

That's brilliant charabanc, thanks for the info - I'll follow it up

I have a little information about the Horne family, Barry - although not specifically about the church aisle or windows. In my 1897 "History of Stoke", by the then Reverend T. A. Blyth, there are a few mentions of various members of the Horne family, and I'll write out the main points here.... 1766 - Horne, M.D., lived in a House situated on the Glebe Land, opposite to the Rowe, which Land the said Doctor Horne bequeathed to the Vicarage. N.B. - Doctor Horne formerly owned the Manor of Stoke, but afterwards sold it to the Mayor, Bailiffs and Commonalty of Coventry, who still remain the Proprietors. From "Warwickshire Arms and Lineages by the Rev. Fred. W. Kittermaster, M.A.," it appears that the Horne Arms were as follows:- "Gu. [Gules or red], a fess vair. Confirmed by Lennard and Vincent [deputies for William Camden, Clarenceux, in 1619] to Reginald Horne, of Stoke, Coventry, grandson of Reginald Horne, Co. Salop. - Her. Vis. [Herald's Visitation.]" OK, that's enough typing, I'll scan and upload the remaining bits...! I hope these are useful to the Horne family.

Many thanks Rob for all the information on the Horne family. I'm sure it will be invaluable to my Australian acquaintance. The reference to the Horne coat of arms is definitely correct according to the stained glass window in St. Michael's Church, Stoke (see attached). Thanks, too, for all the other respondents' clues. They are all very useful. With appreciation. Barry

My pleasure Barry, so glad I could find something for you. That's a super image of the stained glass too, very vibrant colours. But do I detect a hint of cloning going on to hide a blemish??? Not that I would ever do such a thing!

Hi Rob, Hi all You are truly a historian, Rob. You know where to turn for info, as & when you need to. My comments are not flannel but true. Your website management, technical & otherwise makes me very humble in being a member, where my interests are somewhat narrow and can be viewed as eccentric. Please be uplifted by the success of your site which is loved by so many from all over the world, just as demonstrated on this topic. Thank you so much. Bril!

And you are truly a gentleman Philip. I always appreciate your kindness - a huge reason why I continue to pour love and time into this site.

Still appreciated, Rob. No Photoshop work on the image - it was taken by the vicar perched precariously on a ladder! You'll also notice the authentic cobwebs. A favour, please, can you send me an image of Stoke and area made approx. 1615, if one exists? Trying to establish if the current Ansty Road used to be called Anstey Lane. Thanks muchly. Barry

Hi Barry, I'm afraid I've never come across any Stoke map of that age. The oldest one I have is from that same book, c1897, but Ansty Road is not even labelled with any particular name on it. I wonder if any other members know of any older Stoke maps? All the best, Rob

Thanks, Rob, for checking. Attached is an earlier map (1887) from old-maps.co.uk (http://www.old-maps.co.uk/maps.html), a valuable source if you're not aware of it. Curious that St. Michael's Church is labelled St. Chad's Church. I'll have to check the history to see why. Cheers Barry

I've wondered that myself, but I've just checked again in that late 1800s history book, and it simply states in the introductory pages that; "Stoke church is an ancient stone edifice, erected in the 13th century, and dedicated to St. Chad." I can find no other reference. It'll be interesting to find out.