The present building is mostly 13th-century in appearance, and structural work has been carried out several times since—particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries, when the church was restored from a ruinous condition.

The land in the parish, which extended from the South Downs to the English Channel coast, was chiefly agricultural.

[3] No church existed in the area at that time, but one was established in North Lancing in the 12th century:[3] a date of around 1120 has been suggested from analysis of surviving masonry at the ends of the chancel.

[4][6] It presents a consistent and harmonious architectural impression, despite the long period of time needed to complete the work.

[5] A stair turret leading up to the tower was built in the 15th century; part of the north aisle had to be blocked to accommodate this.

[8] This attitude was common among the people of Sussex, where church attendances declined dramatically in many villages, including North Lancing.

[3][7] The rest of the building quickly fell into ruins, however: birds were found to be nesting inside,[9] pigeons bred there and the font was empty.

There is a porch with an entrance doorway on the south side, another door at the west end and a vestry at the northeast corner as well.

[12][13] The church's original entrance doorway has been retained in the south porch: it has a round arch carried on chamfered shafts with Norman-style capitals.

[11] Interior fittings include a 14th-century Easter sepulchre with an ogee-arched roof,[6][11][15] part of a sedilia, some Norman friezework,[5][15] and a 12th-century square font in good condition.