The present church replaced a Romanesque stone church that once stood on the same spot. Rather than discarding the old building entirely, its stones were reused as a foundation for the new structure, creating a physical link between the two buildings across several centuries.
The tower is thought to have been the oldest surviving part of the original stone church. From that earlier building, several medieval fragments survive, including three lily-decorated stones, a font bowl, and parts of an early medieval stone coffin — modest but tangible traces of the site's long history.
Saleby's most notable treasure is said to be Sweden's oldest dated church bell, attributed to the year 1228. According to tradition, it was cast during the reign of King Erik the Lisp and Lame and consecrated by Bishop Bengt of Skara. The bell carries a runic inscription recording its casting date and invoking the Virgin Mary and Saint Dionysius, suggesting the church may originally have been dedicated to these figures as "Saint Dionysius's church". Visitors interested in early Scandinavian craftsmanship may find this bell of particular interest, though the claim of it being the oldest dated bell in Sweden rests on the surviving inscription rather than independent verification.