Built of red sandstone and some tufa, the church has a 12thc. aisleless nave, which was extended to the W in the later 12thc. or early 13thc., a chancel of similar date to the W end of the nave, and a 15thc. tower with a modern spire. Romanesque sculpture is found in the S doorway of the nave, in the arcading above it, in the chancel arch and in its flanking blind arcading.

In 1086, the manor was held by the prior and convent of Worcester; in the reign of Henry II it was held by Alexander de Knighton.

Knighton is related to a series of churches in the Teme valley, some of which also have blind arcading above the doorway (Eastham, Stoulton and, later, Bockleton; Stratford in Pevsner 1968, 45). Knighton seems to be the only one to have interior blind arcading, although there are sculptured panels flanking the chancel arch at Stockton-on-Teme. Tapered rolls are found at the angles of cushion capitals at Stockton-on-Teme, Eastham and Martley. See Preface to Worcestershire.