Clive is a village 7 miles N of Shrewsbury, to the W of Grinshill Hill, where sandstone was formerly quarried. The village of Clive consists of houses, the church, two nonconformist chapels (both closed) and residential building clustered around a network of minor roads. The single-aisled church is mainly 19thc. Gothic Revival. It has late 12thc. S and N doorways. The S doorway is blocked up and largely plain. The N doorway is decorated with some sculpture. The church was extensively restored in 1885-7.

Clive is not mentioned by name in the Domesday Survey, but probably represents the part of Broughton held by the church of St Mary, Shrewsbury in 1086. It was assessed at 5 hides, with a priest and 7 villans, and woodland sufficient for 24 pigs. It was still held by the Dean and Canons of St Mary's in the 14thc.

In the porch there are two old photographs showing the church before the alterations of the 1880s. The N doorway appears to have been reset during the restorations. Eyton's account of Clive includes an engraving of the church before 1887, showing the N doorway.