The church comprises, chancel with S chapel and N vestry, nave with S aisle and S porch, and W tower.  The nave and chancel are 12thc, while the S porch, S aisle and tower are 14thc. The chancel was rebuilt in the 15thc (Historic England listing: 1309558). Romanesque sculpture is found on the elaborately carved S doorway.

Earl Harold held Shebbear in 1066.  After the Conquest it was held directly by William I. 

The carving on the doorway is very close in style and execution to doorways at Buckland Brewer, Parkham and West Woolfardisworthy. There are also similar doorways at Morwenstowe and Kilkhampton (Cornwall). A fragment of label, of exactly the same type as described above is reset into the porch at Molland, suggesting that a similar doorway may once have existed there.