St John The Baptist
Higher Ashton
Devon
Early C15, restored 1881-83 to the designs of the rector, Rev. R Dennett, further restoration 1899-1901 by Ponting of Marlborough.
Architectural Features
Perpendicular, the heraldic glass dating from the period of Bishop Lacy, 1420-55, (Pevsner), the whole church possibly of this date.
moulded arched south priest's doorway with 3 plank C17 door and 2 Perpendicular windows with considerable C19 stonework replacement.
Gabled porch with rounded chamfered outer doorway and a chamfered inner doorway with a probably C17 plank and stud door
moulded arch braced medieval roof with brattished wallplate
medieval benches with stone seats
Interior: Outstanding for Perpendicular fittings, painting and stained glass.
Open waggon roofs with moulded ribs, carved foliage bosses and a brattished wallplate to nave and chancel.
The roodscreen paintings are probably the best in the county: conventional dado paintings on the west side and exceptionally fine large demi-figures on the east side and parclose which has 6 square-headed traceried bays.
Most of the bench ends have 2 tiers of blind tracery, some of the benches have good carved bench backs.
Perpendicular Beerstone font with an octagonal bowl with foliage carving at the junction with the stem.
Heraldry marks the marriage between Sir James Chudleigh of Ashton and Margaret, daughter of Lord Stourton.
Well-carved tester, the soffit decorated with applied ribs, bosses and stars.
C19 timber eagle lectern in nave
C17 altar table to north- east chapel.
Wall Monuments : Remarkable C17 timber wall monument in north wall to Sir George Chudleigh, died 1657.
SX8584 : Higher Ashton, St. John the Baptist's Church: All wooden memorial for Sir George Chudleigh (d. 1657)
On the north wall a severe Egyptian style monument to William Godfrey, died 1798 is signed T Robinson.
Stained Glass Early C15 by the Doddiscombsleigh school of glass painters and evidently the remains of a large scheme.
SX8584 : Higher Ashton, St. John the Baptist's Church: Stained glass window, top section with c15th glass fragments
The surviving figure glass is fragmentary, the heraldic glass in the head tracery is more complete and indicates Chudleigh alliances.
The glass was restored in 1901-2 by F. Morris Drake of Exeter who commented on its remarkable technical qualities
Wall painting : Unusually well-preserved wall-painting on north wall of north east chapel showing the mass of St Gregory, further fragment of painting on east wall of chapel
it is likely that other wall-paintings survive behind later plaster and paint.
An outstanding medieval church with important medieval paintings, woodwork and stained glass.
Adams, Maxwell "A Brief Accound of Ashton Church and of some of the Chudleighs of Ashton", TDA Vol 33 pp 185-198 Drake, Morris "Heraldic Stained Glass in Ashton Church" Exeter Diocesan Architectural and Archaeological Society Transactions, 3rd series, vol 2, pp 167-174 Brooks, C and Evans, D, unpublished notes on the stained glass of Ashton Church.