Stoke-by-Clare is a small village and civil parish in Suffolk located in the valley of the River Stour, about two miles west of Clare.

The Priory, which was controlled by the monastery of Bec in Normandy, enjoyed by 1291 rents from 17 parishes in Suffolk.

During the Hundred Years' War the Priory's revenues were in part diverted to the English crown and in 1415 the Priory was replaced by Stoke College, intended to support a small community of priests and choristers under the patronage of Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March,[3] who was also buried here.

Under his authority the College became a centre of the 'New Learning' and reforms brought him into conflict with the Priory at Clare.

[4] Major-General Edward Loch, 2nd Baron Loch CB CMG MVO DSO, a senior British Army officer, is buried in the churchyard of St John the Baptist and there is memorial to him within the church.