This impressive three-decker pulpit, a rare survival of its type, dates from the Jacobean period and reflects the liturgical ordering of parish worship in the early 17th century. Constructed in robust, dark-stained oak, it rises in three diminishing stages, each tier serving a distinct function within the pre-Victorian service.

The lowest tier provided a seat for the parish clerk, whose role included leading responses and assisting in the administration of worship. Above this sits the reading desk, from which the lessons and prayers were delivered. The uppermost tier, reached by a stepped staircase integrated into the structure, formed the elevated preaching pulpit, giving the minister clear sight and audibility throughout the nave.

The woodwork retains its original character: simple but confident panelling, moulded cornices, and the practical emphasis on visibility and acoustics characteristic of Jacobean church furnishings. The three-decker form became widespread after the Reformation, but many were dismantled in 19th-century restorations; few complete examples remain today.

At Ashby St Ledgers, this pulpit stands as an important survival, illustrating the hierarchical liturgical arrangement of early modern Anglican worship and preserving an architectural form that once dominated English parish interiors.