The church, of coursed flint with stone dressings, has chancel, nave with S porch, and W tower. The nave has long and short quoins on all angles indicating a pre-Conquest date for the original structure. The chancel is 14thc with a 19thc E end. The tower is 13th or 14thc with 15thc additions. The chancel was restored by Slater in 1864 (Pevsner and Cherry 1977, 278). Late 11thc. or early 12thc sculpture is found on the blocked reset N doorway.

Reed appears six times in the Domesday Book. The first occurence records that lands were held by Sinoth, the Abbot of Chatteris' man and Sired, Earl Harold's man, before the Conquest and that the overlords were the abbey of Chatteris (St Mary) and Earl Harold. After the Conquest Hardwin of Scales was Lord and tenant-in-chief. The second records that lands were held by Alward (the noble) before the Conquest and that the overlord was Earl Harold. After the Conquest Robert son of Roscelin was Lord and Count Eustace of Boulogne was tenant-in-chief. The third records that lands were held by Edeva the fair before the Conquest and that the overlord was Archbishop Stigand. After the Conquest Osbern was Lord and Bishop Odo of Bayeux was tenant-in-chief. The fourth records that lands were held by Leofing the priest, Edeva's man, before the Conquest and that the overlord was Edeva the fair. After the Conquest Hardwin of Scales was Lord and Count Alan of Brittany was tenant-in-chief. The fifth records that lands were held by Thorbiorn of Orwell before the Conquest and that the overlord was Edeva the fair. After the Conquest Alward (the noble) was Lord and Count Alan of Brittany was tenant-in-chief. The sixth records that lands were held by Sinoth, the Abbot of Chatteris' man, before the Conquest and that the overlord was the abbey of Chatteris (St Mary). After the Conquest Eudo the steward was Lord and tenant-in-chief (http://opendomesday.org/place/TL3636/reed/).