In the 1200s Roydon was the most important of the local villages and held a weekly market, plus an Annual Fair on 1 August.

Initially in 1240 there was possibly a semicircular apse at the east end to house the sanctuary and the altar, but no evidence remains of this.

The order was proscribed early in the next century throughout Europe, including in this country, because the Kings felt that the Templars were becoming too powerful.

Around 1380, it was decided that the church was not big enough for a growing and active village, and so a north aisle was built to enlarge it.

Several have the remains of the original glass in them at the top; unfortunately they were damaged during the Civil War and the main pictures (probably of saints) were removed.

An unusual feature is a quatrefoil (four leafed clover) hole in the screen, which is believed to have been used for confessionals (in those days, all churches were Roman Catholic).

The Roundheads, who did not approve of figures of Christ and his saints in churches, removed the cross during the Civil War.

For hundreds of years, as the largest public building in the village, the church was used for secular meetings as well as for services.

During the war a bomb was dropped nearby which did not hit the church directly but still badly cracked the ceilings in the nave and north aisle.

The decision was taken to leave the timbers on display – all very well for church historians, but not for the members of the congregation who had to endure the consequent draughts and cold in the winter.