St Mary's was rebuilt in 1876, three years after the collapse of the tower, reusing old materials but also retaining some medieval fabric, including the S doorway and S transept. The only Romanesque carving at the church is on the pillar piscina in the chancel although this, too, is at least partly modern.

The principle tenant-in-chief in Domesday Book for both East and West Rudham in Brothercross hundred was William of Warenne. Count Alan of Brittany and Peter of Valognes also had holdings there in 1086, and Toki of Walton and Alfheah were lords there before the Norman conquest. One church and a half was recorded on lands held by William of Warenne post-Conquest and by Toki of Walton before him.

The interlace has a rather mechanical finish and looks suspiciously crisp and modern. Pevsner (1962 edn) passes no comment, but in the 2nd edition (1999/rev. 2000), the interlace is considered to be 'masquerading as Norman but ... surely either reworked or all 19thc.'