Undated postcard.

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1919 states "The living is a rectory, net yearly value £200, including 44 acres of glebe and residence, built in 1849, in the gift of the Lord Chancellor, and held since 1893 by the Rev. Harry Smedley Vlako Turner B.A. of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, who is also rector of Brigsley"

St Peter's church viewed from the north-east.

The late, poor domestic windows of the north aisle are seen here, together with the windows of the Decorated period re-used in the post-medieval chancel.

August 2014

It is not easy to understand why Ashby-cum-Fenby ever needed a church as large as St Peter's.

The tower is Early English with dog-tooth decoration. The north arcade dates from a similar period - there may once have been a south arcade.

The chancel is post-medieval. There is a Norman pillar piscina now in the west end of the building.

Mark Acton, August 2014

Church viewed from the north.

Kelly's Directory 1930 reports :-

"The church of St. Peter is a small but ancient structure of stone in the Norman and Decorated styles, consisting of chancel, nave, north aisle and an embattled western tower containing 3 bells:

the oldest portion is the south wall of the nave:

one of the chancel windows contains some contemporary stained glass, and there is an ancient stone font:

in the tower is the recumbent cross-legged effigy of a knight of the time of Edward I .; and there are other monuments to Susanna, daughter of Sir William Drury and sister of Lady Frances Wray, and to Sir William Wray, who died at Ashby in 1617, and lies buried in Ashby church with Frances his wife, eldest daughter of Sir William Drury kt. of Hawsteade, in the county of Suffolk, and his wife the Lady Elizabeth Stafforde, descended from the illustrious family of the Dukes of Buckingham; there is also an inscribed slab to another member of the Wray family, dated 1699:

in 1919 a tablet was erected near the font by P. H. Campion esq. as a memorial to William Wright, who was killed in France in 1916:

the oak reredos was erected in 1923 by the late Rev. H. S. Vlako Turner, rector 1893-1925:

the fabric was extensively repaired in 1845:

the tower was repaired in 1886, and an organ erected in 1884 at a cost of £70:

there are sittings for 160 persons"

DB 10 December 2023

One of the two bells standing in nave of the church. This one is dated 1725.

Looking east towards the altar. 

White's Directory 1872 notes :-

"The Church (St. Peter) is a small ancient fabric, consisting of nave, north aisle, chancel, and a tower containing three bells, and has monuments in memory of Sir William and Lady Frances Wray, Susannah Drury, daughter of Sir William Drury, and a Knight Templar.

It was thoroughly repaired in 1845.

The rectory, valued in K.B.at £14. 10s. 10d., and now at £350, is in the patronage of the Lord Chancellor, and incumbency of the Rev. James Garvey, M.A., who has a good rectory house, built in 1849, and is also rector of Brigsley.

The glebe is 44 acres, and the tithes are commuted for £350 per annum"

DB 10 December 2023

"IN MEMORY OF THE REV. JAMES GARVEY, M.A. FOR 43 YEARS RECTOR OF THIS PARISH, WHO DIED JUNE 2OTH 1893. AND OF MARY HIS BELOVED WIFE WHO DIED SEPT 26TH 1880. THIS TABLET HAS BEEN ERECTED IN AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE BY THEIR CHILDREN"

DB 10 December 2023

"Sacred to the Memory of The Revd JOHN GRANTHAM, Vicar of CADNEY,and WAYTHE in this COUNTY, and for nearly forty years Curate of this Parish. And of ELIZABETH, his Wife. She died July the 2nd 1819, Aged 61, He April the 14th1820, Aged 70. They were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their deaths were not long divided"

DB 10 December 2023

The monument to Suzanna Drury, who died in 1606, is on the north wall of the chancel.

The details of the surround tally with the Jacobean date, but the effigy and also the hounds which support the sarcophagus lid and wreaths are considered to be replacements dating from c.1700 (Pevsner).

August 2014

Organ standing against the south wall of the chancel.

DB 10 December 2023

The decorated pipes of the church organ at St Peter's are typical of the Victorian period.

August 2014

Looking east into the sanctuary.

DB 10 December 2023

A closer view of the altar and reredos.

DB 10 December 2023

The reredos also serves as a First World War memorial "TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO SERVED AND FELL IN THE LATE GREAT WAR"

DB 10 December 2023

"Fragments of C14 glass, including portions of dragon, in chancel south windows"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1346925?section=official-list-entry 

DB 10 December 2023

Lady Elizabeth Stafford, who died in 1599, is memorialised on this wall tablet.

Her daughter Frances married William Wray and hence this tribute to her from the local family.

Looking west towards the tower arch.

"Arcade of one pointed double-chamfered arch and 3 plain round arches of 2 orders, probably re-built in C17, on C13 keeled quatrefoil piers, one with moulded capital and circular abacus, the others plainer, perhaps contemporary with arches"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1346925?section=official-list-entry 

DB 10 December 2023

Looking east towards the C17 chancel arch and chancel beyond.

"nave arcade, north aisle and chancel rebuilt in C17, the latter incorporating C14 windows"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1346925?section=official-list-entry 

DB 10 December 2023

Looking across the nave towards the arcade and north aisle. Christmas tree festival in progress.

"Arcade of one pointed double-chamfered arch and 3 plain round arches of 2 orders, probably re-built in C17, on C13 keeled quatrefoil piers, one with moulded capital and circular abacus, the others plainer, perhaps contemporary with arches"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1346925?section=official-list-entry

DB 10 December 2023

"C14-C15 font with octagonal bowl carved with mouchettes and quatrefoils in circles, shafted column and moulded base"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1346925?section=official-list-entry 

DB 10 December 2023

"TO THE MEMORY OF WILLIAM WRIGHT, KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE, APRIL 16th 1916. AGED 19 YEARS.

 https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/53515

DB 10 December 2023

C19 pulpit? Dating from the 1845 restoration?

DB 10 December 2023

Looking up to the nave roof - dating from the 1845 restoration?

DB 10 December 2023

Adjacent windows on the south side of the nave at St Peter's have Decorated tracery, i.e. early 14th century.

There indications that there was a south arcade in an earlier period.

August 2014

Looking east along the north aisle with a Christmas tree festival in progress. 

DB 10 December 2023

Looking west towards the Wray monument.

DB 10 December 2023

Crib before the altar at the east end of the north aisle.

DB 10 December 2023

"fine mid C17 standing ashlar monument bearing traces of painting to Sir William Wray (died 1616) and Lady Frances Wray (died 1647)"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1346925?section=official-list-entry 

August 2014

A recumbent baby lying at the feet of Sir William Wray and Lady Frances Wray.  Date mid C17.

August 2014

The heads and shoulders of Sir William Wray and Lady Frances Wray, details of the ten-poster monument dating from mid C17.

August 2014

"West tower with west entrance 

C13 tower ...  tower repaired 1886 ... tower restored 1959"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1346925?section=official-list-entry 

DB 10 December 2023

"Central section of C14 oak rood screen under tower arch"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1346925?section=official-list-entry 

DB 10 December 2023

Fine carved head corbels on either side of the tower arch.

DB 10 December 2023

Fine carved head corbels on either side of the tower arch.

DB 10 December 2023

Kelly's Directory 1930 notes 3 bells in the tower. 

"THESE ANCIENT BELLS WERE REHUNG THANKS TO A KIND AND GENEROUS LEGACY FROM MISS RITA NOREEN FRENCH (DAUGHTER OF A PREVIOUS RECTOR) WHO "HAD FOND MEMORIES OF THIS CHURCH""

DB 10 December 2023

This effigy of a knight, lying cross-legged, dates from the early 14th century.

It is located on the south side of the church near the west end.

August 2014

"in tower a good early C14 knight effigy with legs crossed and lion at feet"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1346925?section=official-list-entry 

DB 10 December 2023

"C11 - C12 pillar piscina at west end with quatrefoil shaft, scalloped capital and square top"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1346925?section=official-list-entry 

DB 10 December 2023

An adjacent sign reads "THE WRAY ALMSHOUSES FOUNDED BY DAME FRANCES AND SIR CHRISTOPHER WRAY 1641"

White's Directory 1872 reports :-

"Lady Francis Wray erected almshouses here for six poor men or women of Ashby, Barnoldby-le-Beck, Grainsby, and Waith; and in 1641, Sir Christopher Wray, her son, endowed them with a yearly rent-charge of £30.

New trustees of this charity were appointed by the Court of Chancery in 1829. The two Ashby alms people have also the interest of £100 given by the Rev. John Williams, a former rector; and upon the death of an annuitant living at Waith, the inmate of the Grainsby almshouse will receive the interest of £150 (consols) given by the Rev. Woodthorpe Johnson, the present rector of Grainsby"

DB 10 December 2023