The first record of a priest at Stokesley is the Domesday Book of 1086.
Between 1153 and 1660, standard County histories record the names of 40 incumbents. They include at least one Dean of York; and in the reign of Queen Elizabeth the First, one (Richard Barnes, 1567) who went on to be Bishop of Durham in 1577.
The last Rector before the Civil War, Thomas Pennyman, was a member of a local royalist family. He was "deprived" of his living, and a minister called William Kaye took charge during the Commonwealth. When the monarchy was restored, Thomas Pennyman returned. Those who followed him were:
1688 Robert Ward
1723 Henry Cooke Also a Prebend (of Rampton) at Southwell Minster
1750 Francis Wanley DD Also Dean of Ripon Minster
1791 George Markham DD Son of William Markham, Archbishop.
Also Dean of York from 1802
1823 Leveson Venables-Vernon-Harcourt Son of Edward V-V-H, Archbishop
Also Archdeacon of Cleveland from 1828. He was also a published theologian.
1835 Charles Cator BD
1873 Francis Digby Legard MA Of a long established family of baronets, married to Jane Vernon-Harcourt (Leveson’s niece) - they are buried in the Churchyard Extension. The church was much re-ordered in his time, and there is a stained glass window in his memory.
1883 Lloyd Stewart Bruce MA His youngest daughter Kathleen married Robert Scott (of the Antarctic) - the ring of bells (originally 6, now 8) was installed in his time.
1886 Charles Sisum Wright MA Of a family that still owns Eyam Hall (in Derbyshire). The window of the Transfiguration was installed in his memory. His son, William Peter Wright, acted as his curate for part of this time, and was also a keen bellringer.
1904 Frederick Seymour Besley BA
1905 Robert Fisher MA
1925 Thomas Enright Lindsay MA also Archdeacon of Cleveland
1936 Anthony Basil Carter MA also Archdeacon of Cleveland
1942 Clifford Hubert Davies FRGA
1967 William Clifford Slade MA
1971 Ronald John Woodley (Archdeacon of Cleveland 1985-91)
1985 Michael David Allan Dykes
2009 Andrew Paul Hutchinson MA
2021- Benjamin Luke William Gunter