A stone church, dedicated to Saint Mary, was built in East Cowton in the 14th century, and largely rebuilt in 1707.

It had a nave, chancel, north vestry, south porch, and a small west tower built of brick.

The church was some distance from the village centre, and by the early 20th century it was considered to be too small, and in need of major repair.

Instead, it was abandoned,[1] and a new church was completed in 1910, to the designs of John Woolfall and Thomas Eccles.

On the roof, at the division between the nave and the chancel, is a hexagonal shingled flèche, with a louvred bell stage and an iron weathervane.