Stivichall / Stivicall / Styvechale

We found no entry for Stivichall in the Domesday survey. Pevsner (1966) writes: "The FONT, octagonal, with plain rolls to separate the panels, looks more 1660s than Perp[endicular]". English Heritage [Listing NGR: SP3306676843] notes: "The baptistry has c.1955 stained glass windows in a conservative style and contains the font with a deep octagonal bowl on an octagonal stem. The font is difficult to date, but Pevsner suggests that it may belong to the 1660's. " The Victoria County History (Warwick, vol. 8, 1969) notes: "The ancient parish of Stivichall (or Styvechale, as it is now sometimes spelt) lay about 1½ mile south of the city of Coventry. [...] Stivichall was first mentioned among the chapelries 'restored' to Coventry Priory by Ranulf de Gernon, Earl of Chester, in the early 12th century. [...] The chapel was appropriated to the priory [of Coventry] in 1259. [...] The priory was to provide a chaplain to hold services three times a week; the chapel did not then have burial rights, and bodies were presumably taken to St. Michael's in Coventry. [...] Stivichall Hall, built by the Gregorys in the 1750s, may have had no connexion with the medieval hall, but have been on a newly inclosed site. The new house, the planting of the mile-long avenue of three rows of oaks, and the complete rebuilding of the church, [...] The first church was a Norman structure, probably similar to the other daughter chapels of St. Michael's, consisting only of nave and chancel. A view of the church before its demolition in 1810 shows that it had been considerably altered [...] but had retained its two 12th-century doorways [...] The medieval church was demolished in 1810 and a new one, completed in 1817 [...] The new addition included a projecting baptistery on the south side and a west porch, designed to form the base of a future tower. The architects were W. S. Hattrell and Partners of Coventry. A vestry and cloakrooms were added to the south of the chancel in 1958. (fn. 375) The only ancient fitting is an octagonal stone font, probably dating from the 15th century."