The village of Shipton Oliffe lies 6 miles ESE of Cheltenham. The church, which is situated in the centre of the village on sloping ground, is built of coursed limestone rubble. The building consists of a chancel, a nave with a S chapel, a S porch and a W bellcote. The church was restored in 1903-4 to designs by H. A. Prothero and G. H. Phillott. The Romanesque features comprise the N nave doorway and the chancel arch.

The Domesday Survey records that in 1086 there were five estates in ‘Shipetune’ - this name place seems to cover the later parishes of Shipton Oliffe and Shipton Sollers, and later documents do not always distinguish between the two Shiptons, which presents difficulties for understanding the descent of the various estates. However, in 1066 Osgot held an estate of 2¾ hides in Shipton and in 1086 William Leuric held it with Geoffrey as his tenant. Domesday Book also records a priest in this estate, which suggests that this estate also included the church of Shipton Oliffe.