The church was restored by J. L. Pearson in the Decorated style. The church has a chancel, nave with north aisle, south transept and west tower. The responds of the pointed chancel arch may be twelfth-century.

In the Domesday Book there was a church and a priest at South Cave (VCH II).

The value before the Conquest was £12, and by 1086, £5. In 1066 all 24 carucates in South Cave had belonged to Game; in 1086 they were held by Robert Malet; in 1106 they went to Niel Daubeney, and then to his son called Roger Mowbray. In 1153 Roger de Mowbray gave 4 carucates near the Humber to York Minster (VCHER IV, 43). Between about 1170 and 1184, Roger de Mowbray gave Roger d’Eyville 3 carucates; Nicholas de Bellun and Roger de Norris held the remainder.

When the same architect restored Riccall church, he left the arcade columns leaning, relying on the complete rebuilding of the outer walls and tower to cope with the strains. 'Pearson left them as a reminder of the state of the church before he restored it' (Quiney 1979, 129).