According to a local legend, the tower was built from stones from a castle at Rugby, which had been demolished on the orders of Henry II, who forbade private fortifications without royal approval, however there was no prohibition against fortified churches, and so the tower may have been constructed, nominally as an addition to the church, but in reality as a way to provide a place of defence, while still conforming to the statute.

[3] In the late 19th century, due to the dilapidation of the building, St Andrew's was extensively rebuilt on a much larger footprint to the designs of William Butterfield, retaining only the West tower and North nave arcade from the medieval church.

The main works were carried out between 1877 and 1879, with further additions from 1895 to 1896, by Ewan Christian to Butterfield's original designs, including a new East tower, added in 1895 which has a spire 182 ft (55 m) high.

[1][4] Near the organ and again partially obscured by it, is a mosaic by the renowned Italian company of Antonio Salviati of Murano, Venice, probably in collaboration with Clayton and Bell.

[citation needed] During the period from 1909 to 1936 extensive works by Alex Millar, a highly regarded sculptor and leading member of the Campden Guild of Handicrafts, were commissioned.

[citation needed] The design of the church's East tower and spire bears resemblance to some of Butterfield's other works such as Adelaide Cathedral.