A large and imposing parish church, of silver-white limestone, generally Perpendicular exterior, with battlements all round. Pevsner (1967) and Ryder (1982) found nothing here earlier than the 13thc, although Thompson and Clay (1943) described the lower stages of the west tower as late Transitional.

The phased plan by S. D. Kitson in church shows the rectangle of the nave is based on 12thc remains in the four angles: only one has exposed sculpture; this might be classified as Romanesque.

In the Domesday Book, a combined entry for Dadsley, Stainton and Helaby mentions a priest and a church (Williams et al., 1987-1992, fol. 319). Dadsley is thought to be the later Tickhill; the name survives a little to the north of the present town (Hey 2005). It is not clear which of these vills had the church. The manors were given to Roger de Busli, who began the castle (see separate report).

The church was given to Nostell priory on its foundation in the 12thc (Thompson and Clay 1943). Its size and importance in the Middle Ages was presumably because of the presence of the castle of Tickhill, a chief place of the barony.

The tower arches are dated to the early 13thc on the phased plan by S. D. Kitson displayed in the church: they are very tall with keels and fillets; the arches are pointed with rolls, hollows and keeled mouldings. However, three of the main respond capitals have small carved details which look back to Romanesque: there is a symmetrical foliage sprig on the SW and NE piers and another foliate knob on the NW pier. Regarding item 2 of the miscellaneous decoration, there is another late string course at Wadworth; it too is prominent but the profile is different, with a hollow chamfer.