The original Norman parish church stood about three quarters of a mile from the village, almost opposite Upton Manor, and is described as having pointed arches of peculiar elegance, richly decorated with chevrons and Saxon mouldings. Internally it had benches for about one hundred and fifty, a clay floor, an oak pulpit, a stained glass window and a bell.

It is not known when the church was built, the earliest references to it are in 1347. In 1709, the steeple was damaged and the parishoners were allowed to sell two out of the three bells to cover the cost of repairs, as only fourteen families in the parish were able to give any contributions. The church was demolished in 1813 following a major fire. It is believed that the church was built on the site of earlier churches, dating back to about 700 - 900 AD.

The old church was surrounded by a burial ground and, despite the proximity of the Overchurch Estate and the Upton Byepass, on a sunny Sunday afternoon in February 2008, it is remarkably quiet and peacefull.

The burial ground is long abandoned, hidden by trees and undergrowth. The old tombstones are lying amidst the nettles and brambles at all angles, however despite their age and neglect, the inscriptions on some of the stones are still legible beneath the moss.

In 1994 English Heritage Scheduled the site of the church, the graveyard and the bank surrounding it as an Ancient Monument.

List of known Vicars

• 1542 - 1565 .. .. .. Thomas Bennett
• 1565 - 1598 .. .. .. John Baylie
• 1598 - 1599 .. .. .. Peter Wilkinson
• 1599 - 1609 .. .. .. Gilbert Dobbs
• 1609 - 1610 .. .. .. John Cooper
• 1610 - 1630 .. .. .. Peter Barker [1]
• 1631 - 1647 .. .. .. Richard Runcorn
• 1647 - 1670 .. .. .. Henry Hatton [2]
• 1670 - 1703 .. .. .. Hugh Burches [3]
• 1704 - 1722 .. .. .. Robert Janny [4]
• 1722 - 1730 .. .. .. Robert Danson
• 1730 - 1737 .. .. .. Richard Smith [5]
• 1737 - 1757 .. .. .. George Hodson [6]
• 1759 - 1774 .. .. .. George Smith [7]
• 1775 - 1777 .. .. .. Thomas Dawson
• 1778 -            .. .. .. Roger Jacson [8]

[1] Also, 1624-30, rector of Bromborough

[2] A Presbyterian during Commonwealth Period and evidently after the Restoration.

[3] Rector of Woodchurch, 1673-1703, also held curacy of Bidston ante 1668.

[4] Also vicar of Birkenhead

[5] Also curate and schoolmaster at Woodchurch

[6] Also curate at West Kirby, 1726-1758

[7] Also curate at Woodchurch

[8] Also rector of Bebington.