History
The church probably dates from the time when it was granted by Robert son of Lomer to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem at Slebech, in 1150. The grant included the tithes of the parish, and Minwear evidently became demesne land of the Order, which also had an important establishment in the same parish now known as the Sisters' House. The low round chancel arch, though now plastered and featureless, appears basically to be of Norman date and if so implies that the church consisted originally of nave and chancel, or originally of nave only but enlarged with a chancel at a very early date. The nave S doorway also appears to survive from the original church.
The N entrance to the nave, the N aisle, S transept and tower appear to have been early additions. The N aisle may be contemporary with the chancel. The font is no earlier than the C14, and this may alternatively be the period when the church was enlarged, including a rebuild of the chancel. The S transept is very small and may have been little more than a tomb recess, but it has a squint for view to the altar.
The order of St John was ejected from Slebech and its other possessions at the time of the Dissolution, in 1540. The possessions were then sold to Barlow of Slebech. The church continued in use as the parish church, but the village connected to it (which survived to the C19) has disappeared, leaving only a farm hamlet.
Repairs to the church were carried out at various dates from 1738 to 1821. This is perhaps the period when the high openings over the chancel arch were cut. In 1836, during the incumbency of the Rev. James Williams, Baron de Rutzen obtained a faculty and a grant from the Commissioners for rebuilding to the designs of Mr Rowland, but nothing was done; there was confusion over possible amalgamation of Minwear with Slebech and Newton parishes, leading to indecision. In 1839 it was hoped that John Cooper, engaged to direct the construction of the new church at Slebech (but not the architect of that church), would do the other two 'at a trifling expense'. Fresh plans were drawn up, costed and approved; the proposal dragged on for more than ten years without the Baron ordering a start. In 1870 the burial ground was extended. A thorough restoration of the church was eventually undertaken, during the incumbency of the Rev. W H Landen in 1874, by the succeeding Baron de Rutzen, in which most early architectural detail was lost or obscured.