An earlier stone church is believed to have stood about 1⁄4-mile (400 m) north of the present one, on higher ground near the windmill.

[2] The church on the present site was built in the 13th century,[1] when the Cluniac Priory of St Andrew, Northampton held the advowson.

[2] A record from about 1340 reports the church as "destroyed", and 20 carts being at "Helmydene" (Helmdon, 2 miles (3 km) southeast of Sulgrave) to collect stone for its repair.

This was added in the middle of the 14th century and retains all of its original Decorated Gothic windows.

[4] In 1840 the nave walls were raised by about 6 feet (1.8 m), the ancient oak roof was replaced with a new deal one and the windows were reduced in height, all to accommodate the installation of galleries to increase the church's capacity.

[1] The two-light east window of the south aisle includes four stained glass coats of arms of successive generations of the Washington family.

[1] St James' has an ancient wooden chest, hewn from a solid oak trunk and said to be 14th-century.

In 1929 a wooden screen was installed separating the ground stage of the tower from the nave to create a vestry.

[2] It was funded by the Women's Committee of the George Washington Institute and made by craftsmen of Broadway, Worcestershire.

The tomb is covered by a 6 feet (1.8 m) slab of Hornton ironstone[2] with monumental brasses set into it.

[2] The parish is part of the benefice of Culworth, with Sulgrave and Thorpe Mandeville, and Chipping Warden, with Edgcote and Moreton Pinkney.

[10] The church hall is to be refurbished and upgraded with a grant from HS2 Ltd, which will include the installation of accessible toilets.