The church consists of a chancel with shallow S transept, nave, S porch and W tower. Though the church is of stone, with render in places, the W tower is of brick. The body of the church appears to be 13thc. though the chancel was rebuilt in 1873/4 when the small transept currently housing the organ appears to have been added. The tower is 17thc. The only Romanesque features are the font and a reset lintel.

Before the Conquest Kirklington was held by Ulf and assessed at 4.5 bovates. In 1086 it was held by Gilbert of Ghent, the soke belonging to the archbishop of York's manor of Southwell. No church or priest was recorded in the Domesday Survey.

The types of capital used on the font and the chip-carved decoration could suggest a date in the first quarter of the 12thc., but the use of an octagonal format was rare before c. 1150-75.