Nave and W tower are of the Anglo-Saxon period. The chancel, originally of the 13th c., was destroyed in a 1962 fire and rebuilt in 1964 by George Pace. N and S aisles are of the 14th c. though some restoration of the N aisle was carried out by Gilbert Scott in 1876 when he also rebuilt the porch and completely restored the interior. The W doorway in the tower and its flanking blind arcades are Romanesque.

Branston was held by Hemming before the Conquest, when it was assessed at 12 carucates, In1086 it was held by Walter d'Aincourt in demesne with a total population of 74 households including a priest who had a church there. Walter's son Ralph, Baron Deincourt, gave lands in Branston to the Priory of Austin Canons in Thurgarton (Notts), which he founded, and which also held the advowson of the church until the Dissolution.

The church has long-and-short work on the SW angle of the nave, suggesting an 11thc date. The doorway and flanking arcading are also early and could date from around 1100 or a little later.