The church was a chapel of Bradbourne which was given in 1205 to Dunstable Priory. Tithes are mentioned as being collected by the priory from Tissington in 1223 and 1227. The chancel was rebuilt in the 18thc, and the building was thoroughly and unfortunately 'Normanized' in 1854 to harmonise the whole with the broad square unbuttressed west tower. Cox mentions that the old north wall, destroyed for the new aisle, contained a round-headed doorway. The key original Romanesque features that remain are the south porch, the chancel arch and a font.

Tissington is recorded in the Domesday Book as a medium settlement of 20 households. The church is not mentioned in the 1291 Taxatio so was evidently valued under 2 marks.