A flint and stone church with 12thc. nave (possibly rebuilt in the 13thc.), 19thc. S aisle, early 14thc. chancel and S transept, 15thc. W tower and 19thc. S porch. The church was substantially restored and rebuilt in 1871-3 by G. F. Bodley. During the reconstruction of the S aisle of the nave the 12thc. doorway was reset and the simple N doorway of the nave was also reused. The chancel retains 13thc. windows.

The manor of Shalbourne lay across Berkshire and Wiltshire. The Berkshire land was held before the Conquest directly by Edward and in 1086 by William I. The Wiltshire portion of the manor was held by Ordwald. After the conquest this land was held by Richard Sturmy (one hide, three virgates) and Wulfric the Hunter (one hide, one virgate). A further record in the Domesday Survey notes that land was also held by Asgot at 1086, but does not mention the pre-Conquest holder or whether this land was in Wiltshire or Berkshire.

The first record of an advowson occurs in 1217–18 when Roger de Caus granted the advowson of the church here to Richard Abbot of Bec.