1686 Baptism

[mezentia]

The attached image shows the baptism of a T Stonyer, son of Thomas and Elizabeth his wife on the 2nd September 1686. But what is the bit before the date? I think it is Offlow Church. But if so, where is this in relation to Leek?

Original image at https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBPRS%2FSTAFF%2F007605006%2F00667&parentid=GBPRS%2FSTAFF%2FBAP%2F1149200.

FindMyPast's transcription says the baptism took place at St. Edward's church in Leek.

[franh1946]

Hi Mezentia, I can't get a good image of your extract, but I would presume it says "of Low Church"i.e. not High or established Church. Fran

[horselydown86]

The record underneath is:  de Leek = of Leek

The Stonyer record is either:  de ffow-church or de flow-church

In these cases it's useful to see a wider range of records because the places are usually repeated a few times.

(I don't have FindMyPast access.)

ADDED:

I didn't mention stow-church as a possibility because no other long-s is present in the clip, and no other t with a tightly looped top.

[Bookbox]

The Stonyer record is either:  de ffow-church or de flow-church

I agree with de ffow-church.

Perhaps Fowlchurch was intended?

https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/photos/item/IOE01/09141/37

https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/staffs/vol7/pp232-239
See under Ball Haye, where the Stonyer family is mentioned.
'The name Fowchurch was coming into use by the later 1630s'.

[mezentia]

Thank you all for the suggestions and links, which I will follow up.

Back with more soon