St Mary's is a cruciform church to which a three-bay south nave aisle, with an arch to the transept, was added in the early 13thc. The nave has a 15thc.-16thc. clerestorey on the S wall only. The N transept now houses the organ, and its arch is 13thc. and pointed, but the transept itself is a modern rebuild. The S transept arch is late 12thc. and round-headed. The chancel belongs to the early 13thc. too, but its S doorway is, stylistically at least, late 12thc., and is included here. The W tower was rebuilt in the 16thc., and its arch is of reused material. The south nave doorway is 13thc., under a porch bearing a date stone of 1662. There is no N doorway. Construction is of stone rubble, much disturbed. Features described here are the S transept arch and the S chancel doorway.

Woodnewton was held by Reginald from Eustace in 1086. No church was recorded at that date, but it existed by 1107-16 when the prebend of Nassington was created by Henry I. Woodnewton remained a chapelry of Nassington throughout the middle ages.

Dedication to St Mary recorded c.1720 (Bridges).

Benefice of Nassington with Yarwell and Woodnewton.

The church is difficult to pick apart because it contains evidence of campaigns very close in date, and of a very free approach to restoration. The VCH suggests that the curious tracery found in the south aisle is 18thc. work, and there is a suspicion of that in the transept arch too.