A church has stood in this place for nearly 900 years and was originally thought to be a wooden construction which was served by the Monks of Bury Abbey. There is no record of laying a foundation stone or of consecrating the church. The first Rector was appointed in 1229. Nothing remains of the original structure, the present building dating from the 14^th Century. The church is sited on the west side of the valley of the infant river Brett which rises 2 miles to the north in the parish of Brettenham and runs alongside a small lake below Thorpe Hall.

The present church has a high pitched roof which is clad in clay tiles but was once thatched. The walls of the nave and tower are of flint and rubble with stone dressing at the corners, buttresses, windows and doors. The south porch was built in the 15th Century and has open tracery on the sides leading to a very fine doorway and medieval doors. The west window is also 15th Century. The church has a 15th Century bell tower which houses three bells; two made by Thomas Cheese in 1629 and 1632 whilst the third bell was made in 1713 by J. Thornton.

The chancel walls and roof have been altered and repaired extensively throughout the 16th and 17th Centuries as well as in the 19th Century. The 19th century vestry stands on the site of the 14th century chapel which was originally attached to the north side of the chancel. In the chancel can be found a piscina which is all that remains of the 14th century chapel.

The lych-gate is 19th century and was erected to the memory of William Guy Harrison and his mother Ann Harrison.

In 1662, the Archdeacon's report stated that the church and the houses thereof were 'in ruin and decaye' - the church was restored.  In 1869, the church was extensively restored again and the western gallery was removed. Rector William Thomas Harrison raised £ 2,000 for this work. At a re-opening communion service on Thursday 6th October 1870, the Bishop of Ely was the celebrant and a congregation of some 250 was drawn from the village's ten hamlets.

In 1925, Sir Courtenay Warner donated about 1/3rd acre to allow the churchyard to be extended.

In the springtime, the churchyard with its snowdrops and aconites is a joy to behold. A young yew tree propagated from an ancient yew estimated to be at least 2000 years old was planted on Rogation Sunday to commemorate the Millennium.

Further information in more detail is in the Church History which is available from the Churchwardens.

email address: thechurchwardens@thorpe-morieux.org.uk