The church was enlarged during the 12th century, and a community of canons serving it eventually developed into a full monastery.

Following the Reformation and the dissolution of the monastery in 1541, the church suffered neglect and dilapidation: in 1686 the apse was demolished and in the 1750s the east part collapsed.

An unusual element is the westernmost south pillar of the nave which contains a niche in which a smaller column has been inserted.

[1][2][3] In the medieval illuminated manuscript Necrologium Lundense, today kept in the library of Lund University, there is a note stating that King Sweyn II of Denmark (c. 1019 – 1076) built the church in Dalby (Dalby and the rest of Scania were part of Denmark until the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658, when the province became Swedish).

[1] Chronicler Adam of Bremen further relates that King Sweyn decided to form two new dioceses in Scania after the death of Bishop Avoco of Roskilde around 1060.

When Henry died after only six years, Egino was however installed as bishop in Lund and Dalby ceased to be a functioning diocese.

During the first half of the 11th century, a large wooden structure was built about 25 metres (82 ft) west of the church.

Archaeologist Erik Cinthio [sv] led the excavations on site in the 1960s and was the first to propose that the buildings west of the church were the remains of a royal palace.

[9] Anders Andrén has argued that the church and the buildings to the west of it formed part of an extensive royal palace complex inspired by Carolingian and Ottonian German examples, and that it in addition may have included mills, villages, a mint and a royal deer park, parts of which would today be preserved in nearby Dalby Söderskog National Park and Dalby Norreskog.

[14] The church was originally probably a basilica, formed of a central nave, seven bays long, and two lateral aisles.

[21] An upper floor was added above the crypt in Dalby, in layout similar to the entrance hall, and this part of the church developed into a short tower.

[28][29] Both the church and the monastery were damaged by fire in 1388, and again in the middle of the 15th century by Swedish troops under the command of Charles VIII of Sweden.

[28] Dalby village was burnt by Swedish troops during the Torstenson War in 1645, and it's possible that also the church was damaged at that time.

[30] In 1686 King Charles XI of Sweden ordered the demolition of the apse, to use the stone for other building projects in Malmö.

The following year repairs were done to the western part of the north wall of the church, and in connection with this another excavation was done by Friedrich Seesselberg.

[37] The church is largely whitewashed, but the lower part of the west end of the tower is of bare sandstone.

The tower has openings facing north, east and south divided by small columns with decorated capitals.

This has been interpreted as a symbolic representation of Boaz and Jachin, two columns which stood on the porch of Solomon's Temple.

Above the windows in the wall facing east there are two Romanesque decorated consoles, probably re-used from the earlier chancel.

The four free-standing pillars are each individually shaped and are partially decorated with geometric forms, beasts and floral ornaments.

[45] The church also acquired an illuminated Gospel Book at an early date; the Dalby Gospel Book is today in the Royal Library of Denmark but was probably donated to Dalby Church in conjunction with the ordination of Egino as bishop in 1060.

There are also medallions showing a lion, two griffins, a hunter with a dog, ornamental foliage, grapes, and a deer.

[48] Also from the Middle Ages is an oak carving of the Veil of Veronica, a south Scandinavian piece of art from the late 15th or early 16th century.

[51] A single seat from a 15th-century choir stall is still located in the chancel, together with copies of two choir stall seats today in Lund University Historical Museum [sv], from the 14th century and with the coat of arms of Denmark carved on their sides.

[42] Of later date is the current pulpit, which was installed in 1705 and displays the monogram of King Charles XII of Sweden.

The altarpiece was made in a late Baroque style by Johan Ullberg [sv] during the middle of the 18th century.

Information about the church is provided inside in Swedish, Danish, English and German, and visitors may also book a personal visit through the parish.