The church occupies a prominent position overlooking the village of Bettws Cedewain, on the northern edge of the valley of the Bechan Brook which flows into the River Severn.

A campanile or bellcote was added to the earlier tower in the early 16th century by the vicar, John ap Meredyth, whose memorial brass remains in the church to-day.

This included a complete rebuild of the upper part of the tower St Beuno was a Celtic saint who died c. 640 AD.

He then records the Latin inscription to the priest, John ap Meredyth, who died in 1531 and in whose time the steeple or campanile with three bells was added to the top of the tower.

He further remarks that the monumental brass, which is the only one in Montgomeryshire, was previously attached to a great slab or chest of oak, that was still in place in the church.

[6] The Tower must have been extensively re-built in the earlier 18th century, as the watercolour by John Ingleby shows that it had Hanoverian type arched windows, similar to those in nearby Llanllwchaiarn church, which was rebuilt in this style as late as 1815.

[8] The church lacks a chancel and the new fenestration is similar to that shown in Ingleby's watercolour; its arch-braced roof and wind-braces have been totally renewed.