Yanworth lies high on the Cotswolds about nine miles SE of Cheltenham. The village is in a secluded position some way above the River Coln on a tributary valley. The church, which is sited to the E of the village, is built mainly of finely jointed ashlar and comprises a chancel and nave with N transept or chapel, a S porch, and small W tower. Yanworth was a chapelry of Hazleton until becoming a separate parish in 20thc. A continuous moulded plinth indicates that the transept was part of the original late 12thc plan and the N walls of the chancel, transept, and nave retain round-headed windows. The S and blocked N nave doorways date to the 12thc, as also the font bowl. The chancel arch has 12thc origins but has been heavily restored.

The manor of Yanworth originated as an estate held by Gode before the Conquest and by Sigar de Chocques in 1086, when William the Conqueror was said to have exempted three of its five hides from tax. In the 1130s Yanworth was granted to Gloucester abbey and in 1320, as part of an exchange, Gloucester Abbey quitclaimed it to Winchcombe Abbey.