Great Tew is a village about five miles NE of Chipping Norton. The church lies to the E of the village and is a coursed squared limestone rubble with ashlar dressings structure consisting of a chancel (rebuilt in the early 14thc), an aisled four-bay nave, a S porch and a W tower. The building was restored in 1827 by Thomas Rickman. The only Romanesque feature here is the probably re-set S doorway of the nave.

Before the Conquest the manor was held by Ælfric of Abingdon, who granted it to Saint Alban's Abbey in 1005: in 1049-52 it was leased to Tova, widow of Wihtric. The Domesday Survey records that in 1066 'Tewam' was held by Alnoth of Kent; in 1086 King William gave it to Bishop Odo of Bayeux. The manor valued £40. The advowson passed with the manor, which was mainly in royal hands during the 12thc, until 1302.