The church consists of a nave, chancel, south porch and tower at the west end. The tower is the oldest part of the church c.1150. In the early 14thc the nave was rebuilt and further extended in 1881. The key Romanesque features are the font, belfry openings on the tower and the chancel arch.

Thorpe is mentioned in the Domesday Book, its value to its lord, the king, was £1. One church is recorded. The church however, was not mentioned in the 1291/2 Taxatio as its value, as a chapel of Ashbourne, was likely below 2 marks.