The substantial market town of Attleborough lies in central Norfolk on the main A11 road linking Norwich with London and roughly 20 miles south-west of the city of Norwich. Nowadays the town is bypassed by the busy A11 but previously the streets were a desperate bottleneck for traffic heading to and from the county. Now the streets are quieter and buzz only with the local traffic visiting the many shops, pubs and facilities of a market town. Attleborough has also grown substantially during the 20th century as a growth centre with good access links and also supplying a pleasant living environment whilst only 30 minutes drive or train from the city of Norwich.

St Mary's church is a substantial building as befits the population of the town. Described by Pevsner as "stately", (he was less flattering of the town) a mixture of Norman, Early English and Decorated styles but ill-balanced following the loss of the eastern aisled arm (1541). The church sits at the eastern end of the town centre where the north-south running Surrogate Street meets Church Street and stands in an open churchyard which allows a good view of the building.