Architectural Features
Late C13 church enlarged
heightened in the C14 with the central tower heightened
the walls and roofs of the nave, chancel and transepts heightened in the C15.
Below is a stone niche containing a small mutilated seated stone carving under cinquefoil canopy, possibly originally part of a Trinity.
INTERIOR: the nave has a C17 plaster barrel-vaulted roof with square panels and bosses.
The east wall has the date 1638 and, underneath, a rose surmounted by the initials J B and a thistle surmounted by the letters T S. The arcades have pointed arches supported on circular piers with octagonal capitals.
The pulpit of 1897 was designed by John Pearson and is made of Hoptonwood stone with Devonshire marble columns, depicting Christ the Good Shepherd flanked by the four evangelists.
The south transept, since 1970 the Chapel of St Francis, contains the monuments of the Smythe family and was once known as the Smythe Chapel or Strangford Chapel.
The north transept has a north window by Kempe and a series of C19 wall monuments and a First World War wooden memorial wall plaque designed by W Caröe.
There are choir stalls with poppyhead finials and sixteen have medieval misericords, mostly foliate but including a pelican in her piety and a swine eating acorns.
MONUMENTS: the west wall has the carved Coat of Arms of Charles II and a series of mainly early-C19 wall monuments.
Against the south wall is a marble and alabaster wall monument to Thomas Smythe , Queen Elizabeth's Collector of Customs and Subsidies.
This comprises two reclining figures under an elaborate architectural canopy including columns, pinnacles and coat of arms with six kneeling sons and six kneeling daughters below.
The south wall has to the east the black marble and alabaster wall monument to Sir John Smythe d.
1609 eldest son of Thomas.
This comprises two kneeling figures (Sir John in armour)under an architectural canopy with a kneeling son and two daughters beneath.
To the west is the black marble and alabaster wall monument to Sir Richard Smythe, fourth son of Thomas He was also a customs officer and Receiver of the Duchy of Cornwall and owned and largely rebuilt Leeds Castle.
This comprises a recumbant figure in armour under an architectural canopy with Mannerist angels beneath a scrolled open pediment.
North of the high altar is the tomb of Sir John Fogge , a large carved stone tomb chest.
To the north is a brass of Elizabeth Countess of Atholl d.
1375 and the head of a priest of circa 1320.
In the C12, in a charter of King Stephen it is recorded as part of the Priory of Horton Kirby.
Between 1473-83 the church was extensively renovated and partially rebuilt by Sir John Fogge, Lord of the Manor of Repton who was for a time the Treasurer to the household of Edward IV.
The nave roof was replaced in 1638 but damage was caused during the Civil War by the destruction of Medieval stained glass and monuments.
TR0142 : St Mary, Ashford - Stained glass window
C14
the tower, chancel and transepts heightened in the C15. * Medieval fittings include misericords to choir stalls, a sculptured stone figure and font. * There is a fine quality plaster nave roof of 1638. * The nave has C18 wooden galleries on three sides. * It contains an outstanding collection of monuments including medieval brasses, C15 tomb chest to Sir John Fogge and three late-C16 or early-C17 alabaster and marble wall monuments to the Smythe family.