St. James was founded as a collegiate church by the powerful Mortimer family. It lies on the site of an earlier Saxon building. The building has a very early Norman nave. Herringbone masonry is visible on the outside of the north wall.

The church stands above the village and, with the ruined castle, dominates the village and surroundings of Wigmore. The churchyard cross is much restored. It stands on a 14th century base, with an ogee-headed niche. This feature is found in a number of churches along The Marches.

More rare inside is a piscina high on the south wall by the chancel arch. This is a legacy of the original rood screen which, unusually, had an altar on it.

During 2007 and 2008, work on the roof and the internal walls exposed some more Saxon Herringbone brickwork. Sections of this brickwork have been left exposed for viewing.