William the Conqueror gave the manor of Stanes (as Stone then was) to his henchman Robert de Todini who laid the plans for a church to be built on the mound – thereby upstaging Odo, Bishop of Bayeux and William’s half brother.
The church was built in 1135 but, for reasons shrouded in mystery was not consecrated until 128 years later.
Bishop Odo was given the neighbouring manor, to be known as Bishop-stone. In 1545, King Henry VII granted the manor of Stone to Sir Anthony Lee of Hartwell House. The advowson of the parish remained in the Lee family for 420 years. In 1965 it passed to the Worshipful Company of Grocers.
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