Of the Early English Gothic style, the church has a Norman nave with 13th-century transepts and a tower dated to the 15th century.

At the time of the Church of England's Secession and break with Rome Berden priests were appointed by the Bishop of London.

On the night of 25 March 1814 two men from Bishops Stortford, a William Pratt and a Thomas Turner, broke into Trigg's shop to thieve leather goods.

The words "In memory of Henry Trigg of this Parish Aged 36 years Who was murdered March 25th 1814 endeavouring to protect his property" were recorded as written on the tombstone.

[11][12] The Rev Herbert Kynaston Hudson, vicar from 1899 to 1937, reintroduced the miracle play and ceremony of the 'Boy Bishop', based on a 15th-century tradition.

A boy would take the role of bishop, central to the event celebrating the life of Saint Nicholas, and would hold the 'office' for the year.

An equivalent election was for a girl as the 'May Queen', who was accompanied by the Boy Bishop and the vicar to the top of the church tower on May Day.

Film units from British-Pathé and Gaumont British recorded and screened Berden's Boy Bishop ceremony.

The second tower stage west side, slightly set back, contains a narrow arrowslit window rebated within an arch, possibly 15th-century.

The belfry third stage, set back again, contains a restored 15th-century window opening on all sides, all of two lights with trefoil heads, louvred, and ending in a flattened pointed arch with hood mould.

From the bases of the buttresses is a simple moulded socle (plinth) topped by a cill band—angled projection that allows water to flow from a building face— running around the tower.

Running off the nave south side is the 1868 porch, with door set within a deeply rounded arch opening with a following hood mould above.

On both east and west sides is a small twin-light window with ogee trefoiled head arches within a rectilinear frame.

Immediately to the east of the porch is three-light flat-arched window with cinquefoil heads, dated to the 15th century with reused 13th-century material.

The south wall 14th-century window is of ogee-headed twin lights and tracery with an arch surround and hood mould.

The mullions have three part circular shafts as dressing sitting on moulded bases, topped with floriated capitals.

All flooring is plain red tiling except on the raised chancel sanctuary behind the altar rail where there is added bands of black, white and brown.

Set above each squint on the chancel side is a gable as moulding with, at its spring and point, a carved foliated detail.

[21] Monumental brasses combined as a one slab memorial next the altar at the north-east corner of the chancel is to An Thompson—the wife of Thomas Thompson—who died in childbirth, aged 31, on 25 July 1607, St James' Day.

There are eight plates: one each of an image of a man and woman in Elizabethan dress; two with inscriptions; one depicting their nine sons; one their four daughters; and at the head one shield of arms each over Thomas and An.

[21] On the opposite south-east side is an engraved stone slab to the memory of Dame Mary Scott with, at the top, three coat of arms in lozenge format.

[24] Her epitaph is: "She was worthily in Great Reputation for piety and zeal in the Reformed Religion for Exemplary Vertue in the Relations of wife and Mother and for Generous Hospitality Bounty and Charity to the full Extent of her Estate.

"[21][22] Also in the chancel, high on the south wall, is a marble and alabaster tablet to Thomas Aldersey of Berden Hall; born in Cheshire, died 1598.

[21][22] In the north-east corner of the north transept are brass plaques to William Turnor, died 1473, and his two wives Margery and Margaret.

Further north transept memorials are of two coffin lids, one defaced with a part of a raised cross, and the other of Purbeck marble, upturned and used as a wall bracket; both 13th century.

[21][22] On the south wall of the nave is a marble tablet to Colonel John Bury OBE, who was churchwarden of the parish from 1946 to 1961.

On the nave north wall is a tablet to Rev Herbert Hudson next to his cross and staff for the 'Boy Bishop' miracle play that he revived.

[22] Two individual First World War war graves are in the churchyard: one to Gunner W. Turner (died 12 December 1916, aged 31), Royal Garrison Artillery; and one to Private Ernest A. Knight (died 28 November 1918, aged 28), The Essex Regiment—Ernest Knight was one of Herbert Hudson's Boy Bishops.

Further churchyard grave markers are to the murdered parish constable Henry Trigg;[12] to Thomas Beard (died 1800?

Reid was a senior British Army officer during and after the Second World War, and Secretary to the Speaker of the House of Commons.