Local legend holds that Saint Wilfrid visited Burnsall in the late 7th century, and preached from a rock by the River Wharfe.
The Victorian restoration was by John Varley, who inserted a new chancel arch, and raised the nave roof by six feet.
The tower has three stages, diagonal buttresses, a three-light west window and a doorway with a four-centred arch.
[5][6] Inside the church, there is a circular Norman font on a square base, and a Jacobean pulpit.
Various fragments of pre-Norman Conquest crosses and hogbacks have been collected from the local area and are on display in the building.