The first church on this site, a chapel built around 1220, was extended or rebuilt about 1278, by Queen Eleanor, wife of Edward I, and dedicated to All Saints or All Hallows. There have been two major reconstructions, the last being in 1898–1901. Two ancient chapels remain dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. Inside the church are a number of tombs and memorials, mainly to the memory of the Savage and Legh families.

A chapel, known as the Legh chapel was built in 1422, for Sir Piers Legh who fought and was knighted at the Battle of Agincourt; he died in 1422 from wounds received during the Siege of Meaux. Between 1505 and 1507, the Savage Chapel, a larger chantry chapel on the south side of the church, was built by Thomas Savage, Archbishop of York from 1501 to 1507. He died in 1507, and his body lies buried in the north side of the choir of York Minster, but his heart was interred in the vault of his chapel in Macclesfield, under the site of the altar, which was standing at the that time.

The church contains the finest collection of alabaster effigies in Cheshire. The smaller Legh Chapel, built around 1422, and rebuilt in 1620, is now used as a baptistry. It contains a number of memorial brasses, including one to William Legh who died in 1630.

The most remarkable monuments in the church are in the Savage Chapel and include:

Sir John Savage IV, (died 1495) and his wife, Katherine Stanley. On the south side of the chancel, it is a splendid altar-tomb of alabaster, on which are the recumbent figures of a 'Knight and his Ladye.' The knight's feet rest on a dog. In the lady's head-dress, which is extremely rich, the letters I. H.S. are frequently repeated. Eight coats of arms…formerly painted and gilt, at the sides of this interesting tomb, are preserved in the Hurl. MSS.

In the north wall of the chapel, between the chapel and the nave of the church, are two more tombs with effigies. One is Sir John Savage V, the elder brother of Archbishop Savage.

The other is the tomb of his son, John Savage VI, who died in 1527, and who was Sheriff of Worcestershire for 24 years.

Sir John Savage VII (died 1528) and his wife, Lady, Elizabeth Somerset. Nearest the eastern end on the south side, under a lofty Gothic arch with canopied crockets, and a rich finial. The outer wall is pierced below the arch into a window, consisting of eight trefoil-headed lights, filled with stained glass, under which is an altar-tomb, in niches at the side of which are three male and three female figures, the centre niche being occupied by an armorial shield, supported by angels.

On the tomb repose two figures, life-size, executed in alabaster. The knight is habited in plate armour, and has a collar of S.S. round his neck, with a jewel dependant. The countenance expresses great age; his head rests on his helmet and his feet on a dog, which lolls out its tongue as if in blandishment. The lady has a close head-dress and a small lap-dog. Under her head is a pillow supported by angels.

Sir John Savage VIII, K.G., (died 1597) and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Manners. On the tomb are their recumbent effigies with Elizabeth, who was the daughter of the Earl of Rutland, at a higher level to reflect her superior rank. Above them is a canopy on which are two female figures.

Thomas Savage, 3rd Earl Rivers, (died 1694); the latter has the effigies of the Earl in white marble.

[From, among others, Savage-Armstrong, _The Ancient and Noble Family of the Savages of the Ards_, and Davies, ed., _A History of Macclesfield_.]