During the reigns of Henry IV to Henry VIII, Smallhythe was probably the third largest shipbuilding port in the country. This is evidenced in the church which was built, following a devastating fire in 1515, from bricks that were used as ballast in ships arriving from the Low Countries. The church is a simple rectangular box, rather taller than it need be, its exterior height emphasised by the crow-stepped gables that rise in ten steps mirroring the crenelations in the Benelux countries. The west wall has a little image niche under the gable. The interior is as plain as the exterior and has a wooden chancel screen and nicely tiled floor. The church is adjacent to the National Trust property, Smallhythe Place, which was the former home of Dame Ellen Terry, the actress, and, as a result, receives many visitors. This is obviously a much-loved church and, unusually for a village parish, every window is filled with stained glass. The east window which depicts Christ in Majesty is a fine work of 1952 by AL Wilkinson, who has signed it in the bottom left hand corner. All the others are by the firm of AO Hemming, although only the window of the Three Marys at the tomb is signed.
