A church probably existed on the site in Anglo-Saxon times and the current building dates from the 13th century.

[2] The "Church of St Mary held in Wallei" was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.

[3] Its endowment of “two carucates of land free of all custom” suggests that the church was among the wealthiest in what would become Lancashire.

[4] Most of the present church was built in the 13th century, replacing a simpler structure which likely had an aisleless nave and chancel.

[6] It has a clerestoried nave with north and south aisles, a chancel with vestry, porches and a tower.

It contains evidence of a stair to a rood loft, the likely remnants of a piscina and a Medieval altar stone.

[8] The misericord carvings present a varied range of subjects: religious imagery dominates, with angels, devils, the Holy Trinity, two eagles carrying Alexander to Heaven, and St George and the dragon; there are mystical scenes such as a girl with a weeping satyr and griffins; but there are also images of plants, fruit and scenes of everyday life - a blacksmith shoeing, a goose, vines and pomegranates, and a wife beating her husband with a pan.

"[8] St. Anton's Cage, a large pew next to the Lady Chapel, was originally for the Nowell family of Read, near Padiham.

Above the doors are the initials of the Fort and Taylor families who vied for possession of the pew in the early 19th century.

[5] In September 2015 Revd Jonathan Carmyllie was appointed the Vicar of West Pendleside parishes.

Currently serving in the Diocese of Manchester, Revd Carmyllie was Instituted and Inducted at St Nicholas' church, Sabden on 30 September 2015.