Excavations at the site have revealed the 14th century tomb related to the Knights Templar, and in the 1990s, the foundations of the church were underpinned because of possible subsidence effects from the nearby Kellingley Colliery.

Likewise, the local plan as created by Selby District Council states "St Edmund's Church, to the west of Kellington, dominates the skyline when viewed from the village and is a particularly fine Grade I listed building.

"[2] The church was recorded in the late 12th century when the Knights Templar appointed John de Kellington as the rector.

[4] The church is believed to have been in existence before 1177, as it had been granted to the Knights Templar by Henri de Lacy, who died in 1177 whilst on a Crusade.

[14] The vicar of Kellington in the late 1850s, Joseph Mann, helped raise money for a chapel-of-ease at nearby Whitley.

[16] Due to the risk of subsidence that might be caused by the proposed extension of the workings of the nearby Kellingley Colliery, underpinning of the church was deemed necessary.

The excavation was run by York University, under the direction of Richard Morris, Julie Dunk and Ian Lawton, with Warwick Rodwell recording the tower.