Originally part of the archdeaconry of Ossory from 1615, the church continued serving Protestant congregations well into the 19th century before being repurposed as a schoolhouse around 1839. The fact that it remained roofed throughout this period has helped preserve remarkable internal plasterwork beneath later additions, offering archaeologists valuable insights into its medieval origins.

Adjoining the church’s north wall stands an impressive red sandstone tower, likely constructed alongside the church’s east gable in the early 14th century. The tower’s masonry reveals its complex history; a visible change in construction above ground level indicates it was heightened during the 15th century, transforming what may have originally been a simple sacristy into a multi-storey defensive structure. The ground floor features an altar beneath an ogee-headed east window, along with various recesses including an aumbry, a broken credence, and wall cupboards. A particularly intriguing architectural detail is the blocked doorway that once connected the tower to the church, later crudely reopened, whilst two small windows at different levels provided views of the church altar from within the tower.

The tower’s upper levels reveal its dual purpose as both religious and residential space. A straight staircase built into the western wall leads to the first floor, where an unusual trapdoor arrangement with circular stone sockets for hinges once secured access. This floor contains domestic features including a fireplace and garderobe, whilst the second and third floors housed wall cupboards and were illuminated by elegant ogee-headed windows. The spiral staircase in the southeast corner connects all levels up to the roof, where a caphouse protects the stairs and a parapet walk encircles the structure. Most striking is the double bellcote at the southern end, partially supported by corbelled stonework, which would have called the faithful to worship for centuries.