[3] The first church on the site was a small timber-framed building erected in the second half of the 16th century.

In 1808 Robert Goldsmith was appointed as architect and the church was completed in 1811 at a cost of £4,000 (equivalent to £370,000 in 2023).

[6] A major financial contributor to the building of the church was Samuel Oldknow, a local cotton manufacturer.

In the following years some services were still held in the old church but its condition deteriorated and by 1964 it was considered to be dangerous and (save its tower) it was demolished.

The monument to Samuel Oldknow, who died in 1828, is by Francis Legatt Chantrey, but Pevsner considers it to be disappointing.

A monument to Elizabeth Isherwood, who died in 1835, is by Manning and shows a woman kneeling by an urn.

Its plan consists of a three-bay nave with a clerestory, north and south aisles, and a two-bay chancel.

[12] Also listed at Grade II are a stable and coach house from the early 19th century erected for the use of the owner of Marple Hall when visiting the church,[13] and the adjacent hearse house, also dating from the early 19th century.