The church is in the Eccles deanery, the archdeaconry of Salford and the diocese of Manchester.

[2] St Mary's Church, was in medieval times, the centre of a large ecclesiastical parish containing Pendleton, Pendlebury, Clifton, Swinton, Worsley and Barton-upon-Irwell.

The church contains few remains of its earliest incarnation but the tower base and west end of the north aisle are from the 13th century.

[3] The church is constructed in red ashlar sandstone with slate roofs.

[2] The 16th century 'Entry to Jerusalem' window originated in Rouen, France, and was installed in the now-demolished St John's Church, Manchester prior to being sited at Eccles in 1929.