The church is an ancient medieval foundation. Originally there used to be two churches in the same churchyard, one dedicated to St Mary which was abandoned in the C16 and deconsecrated by the Bishop of Norwich in 1563. The Bacon family, (and more recently the Townsends of Raynham), were influential landowners in the parish. Sir Nicholas Bacon (Keeper of the Great Seal to Elizabeth I) and his son Sir Nathaniel, whose tomb is in the church, built the adjacent Old Hall – recently restored. An excellent guide book is available in the church together with information displays including a sensitive account of the sad tenure of the Revd Harold Davidson, famously “unflocked” for supposed indiscretions in London. His grave is in the churchyard, which also contains a conservation area. The position of the church in the Stiffkey river valley is peaceful and attractive. The church contains a remarkable engraved wall memorial to the dead of WWI.