Tideswell was one of a number of parishes that had been granted to Lenton Priory by the Peverel family during the 11th century.

This transfer started approximately 300 years of disagreement between the priory and cathedral about who was rightful owner of the property.

The monks of Lenton Priory armed themselves and attempted to steal wool and lambs from Tideswell, which was one of the disputed parishes controlled by Lichfield.

Pre-empting the monk's attack, the Dean of Lichfield cathedral ordered the wool and sheep to be kept within the nave of Tideswell church.

A fight ensued and 18 lambs were killed within the church: either trampled under the horses' hooves or butchered by the attackers' weapons.

[3] A commission assembled by Pope Innocent IV harshly fined the monks of Lenton Priory.

The Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser wrote on 25 August 1874: It is a relief to find so fine and pure a specimen of fourteenth century architecture in trustworthy hands.

The mistakes of careless times have with great discrimination been remedied; the old landmarks, where recoverable, have been restored, and great judgement has evidently been exercised in the new work introduced[5]The chapel in the south transept was restored as a gift of James Bower Brown of Woodthorpe Hall, Sheffield, under the supervision of Innocent and Brown, architects of Sheffield.

The tomb of Sir Thurstan de Bower and Lady Margaret was reconstructed by the sculptor Thomas Earp of London.

John Oldrid Scott provided new south doors which contained panels cut from an oak beam taken from the Old Guild Hall in the village centre.

[8]The church is in a joint parish with There are brasses to Sir John Foljamb, d. 1383 (restored) and to Bishop Robert Purseglove, d. 1579, who is depicted in pre-English Reformation vestments.

These show the sacraments; baptism, confirmation, communion, marriage, absolution, ordination and the last rites.

In the centre is John the Baptist; it is a memorial to Elizabeth Sarah Fletcher and Mary Chandler who were mothers of the vicar, Rev.