The building is recorded in the Domesday Book at a value of 15 shillings. The only visible link to the Saxon Church is an altar stone in the South Transept which is almost certainly Saxon. There are references in 1900 to 'an exciting discovery under the wooden floor of the South Transept' The stone has been set in the floor upside down and the visible circular depressions would have been to house the stone pillars that supported it. Is it possible the builders in 1900 did not turn the-stone over which should have revealed carved stone crosses indicating its Saxon origin? Perhaps one day there will be funds available to have it properly restored.

During the late 12th Century the church was rebuilt in the Norman Transitional style. It would then have been a small, well proportioned building with a nave of two bays, aisles and an apsidal chancel. The eastern end of the apse would have reached the entrance of the present chancel. The only evidence of the Norman Church visible today, apart from the font, are the two western columns. These are typically round and larger than the others. The northern most column viewed from the east, is considerably out of line and is evidence of the unstable foundation of loose flint and chalk, disturbed by thousands of interments both in and outside the church.

In 1136 the advowson of the church was granted to the de Pistes family by William the Conqueror in 1086. in 1136 the de Pistes transferred the advowson to the Abbey of Lanthony, originally in Wales, but subsequently moved to Gloucester. Evidence of this connection which lasted 400 years, can be found at the south east corner of the churchyard wall where there is a base of a very old churchyard cross which is said to have once stood at the Abbey. It probably stood in the churchyard before being incorporated in the wall, possibly in the 18th Century, maybe earlier.

In the mid 13th Century, a major rebuild took place in the early English (Gothic) style which gives the cruciform shape of the church as it is today. The apse was pulled down and lengthened by one bay eastward, extending the present chancel and creating the transepts. Unusually the transepts are east not west of the chancel arch. Thus the eastern octagonal pillars, only 1 '9" in diameter, each support four arches. This was a bold architectural feat and provides a particularly fine chancel arch. Unfortunately the poor foundations led to many problems over the centuries, particularly with the southern pillar which was in continual danger of collapsing causing great cracks in the arch itself.

About 1450 the windows were enlarged in typically perpendicular Gothic style, and the south west buttress was added. At some stage a Mass Dial was carved on it. A Mass Dial is a vertical sundial consisting of a circle marked into hours with a hole in the middle. Before bells and clocks, the Priest would place a stick in the hole to indicate the time of the next mass. Presumably attendance was poor on cloudy days! The Dial is still visible today.

About 1510 the remarkably fine turreted and embattled tower was built into the west end of the church. The Tudor tower is thoroughly Gloucestershire in style and is another reminder of the ancient link with Gloucester. The stone facings inside the tower have interesting decorative markings, indicating that they came from another building, perhaps from the original Norman Church. The pinnacles, which may have been added later, are very similar to those in the nave aisles of Winchester Cathedral and on the Chapel tower of Winchester College. The position of the tower cutting into the original Norman nave indicates the lack of space available. At that time the churchyard extended only as far as the present bank to the west. The architects needed to allow room outside the west door for processions to form up before entering the church.

At this time there would have been a large wooden gallery known as a rood loft extending right across the church from north to south. It would have been 6 to 8 feet wide and on it would have been the crucifix, figures of St John, St Mary, Angels, candles and other ornaments. It would also have been used by the village orchestra to play at services. The rood toft would have been the dominating feature of the medieval church. Entrance to the loft would have been from the south through a door which is now the window just west of the South Transept. In the: South Transept can be seen the stone steps that would have wound round and up to the door. The steps are set 4' from the ground and a small ladder would have been used, which could be removed to prevent unauthorised entry. The door was changed to a window and the stairs blocked up In 1877. Below the rood loft would have been a carved rood screen dividing the chancel from the nave. This was probably removed in the 1877 restoration. The present Victorian screens around the North and South Transepts may have copied the design-of the original rood screen.

The coats of arms

In 1541, following the dissolution of the monasteries, the advowson was granted by Henry VIII to the Dean and Chapter of Winchester, who are the present Patrons. During the next 300 hundred years there are few surviving records relating to the church. However, we know that by 1635 the church was in a "ruinous state". Sir Robert Payne was holder of the Manor at the time as well as being Sheriff of Hampshire and the churchwarden. At his own cost he had the chancel repaired and stone hauled to the churchyard to add a buttress to the south wall. These were difficult times in England, just 7 years before the outbreak of the Civil War. A mob of villagers lead by one Stephen Batchillor, stoned the horses hauling the building materials, and by further violence stopped the work. The buttress, much needed, was never built. The same Stephen Batchillor led the mob to Newton Stacey and destroyed the consecrated chapel there, looting the materials. It was never rebuilt.

In 1792 a disastrous fire swept through the village caused by sparks from a blacksmiths opposite the old Malt House. Less than 10 houses survived the fire. It seems the church was unscathed as it was used to shelter the unfortunate villagers. The fire explains the lack of thatched cottages in the village.

The Victorians undertook extensive renovations. In 1848 the foundations were reseated and a gallery that stood at the west end was removed. Also the cramped seating was replaced. A contemporary plan shows a restricted space marked "for labourers". In 1877 further extensive repairs were undertaken. A pine arch roof was added to the chancel and the existing open wooden porch was replaced as it is today. Between 1894 and 1901 the chancel pillars were reset, the transept wooden floors replaced with concrete and the pews replaced again. In 1902 the present pulpit and lectern were installed.

In 1971 the church was still the official garrison church to Barton Stacey Camp (now closed) and therefore the Royal Engineers were used to make repairs. They removed the pews from the north and south aisles and replaced the brick floor with tiles and repaired the vestry (North Transept). During the work, a vault was discovered under the north aisle containing 6 coffins, probably dating from the 17th Century. One of the coffins was in reasonable condition and contained the body of a headless man - a victim of the Civil War? The vault is thought to been sealed in 1740. Before it was reseated a watertight bag was left in it, containing a copy of the Hampshire Chronicle and other newspapers, some pro decimal and 'new' money, a copy of the parish magazine and a letter to the next person to visit the vault. Some poor quality photographs of the interior of the vault are in possession of the churchwarden.

Between 1989 and 1991 a major restoration took place, mainly to the stone and flint work at a cost of £65,000, nearly half of which was raised from within the village.

The superb 12th Century font is of purbeck marble. Traces of the original leather hinge and clasp remain. The cover, very badly 'restored', is from a 15th Century rood screen taken from Longparish Church.

Other points of interest:

• The altar table is 17th Century Flemish, bearing the carved figures of Faith, Hope and Charity.
   
• The sanctuary is paved with extremely fine Medieval tiles in good condition. They are similar to those found in Winchester Cathedral.
   
• At the west end hang two hatchments. The southern one is the armorial bearings of Sir Henry wright-Wilson, d. 1832 of Cranboume Manor. The northern one is of his widow Francis (nee Brundell-Bruce) d. 1836. hanging over the south door is the Coat of arms of George III (1760-1820).
   
• The tower contains a peal of six bell. Five were cast in 1725, one was recast in 1828 and a treble was added in 1933.
   
• A Holy Water stoup is to the left of the main door.
   
• The only window in the north wall of the aisle is 15th Century. West of the window is a blocked doorway also 15th Century. The two windows in the east wall of the South Transept are original (about 1250) and only partially restored.
   
• The two windows in the south wall are both 15th Century. On the outer sill of the one to the east of the porch is a 15th Century inscription, that can just still be seen. It says:
  HIC JACKET HUMATES IHON PANN (or PAULL) CIVELUA NATUS                       which could be translated as "Near here is buried John Pann (or Paull) born a citizen". However the last two words are not certain.
   
• The graveyard contains some 17th Century headstones. There are some fine 18th century chest tombs.

For almost 1,000 years the folk of Barton Stacey have prayed, sung, laughed and wept in this beautiful place. Help us to keep it so for another 1,000 years.