The church sits on the top of a small hill in the centre of the town and its spire is visible across the Ryedale district.

Little is known about the first church, but remains from its construction can be seen inside the current building, including the stone font and a carved cross shaft.

The last major structural alterations were carried out in the 15th century when the walls of the nave were raised and clerestory windows added.

[6] The Reverend John Ponsonby, vicar of Pickering from 1814 to 1857,[7] disliked the paintings and insisted they be recovered, much to the frustration of the Archbishop of York at the time, Dr Thomas Musgrave.

[8] The paintings cover the majority of the nave walls and follow the liturgical calendar in depicting scenes from the lives of the saints, interspersed with more perennial themes such as the life of Christ and the Works of Mercy.