The parish of St Laurence sits on St Benedict's Street in the heart of the mediaeval walled city of Norwich. One of 5 such parishes in a half mile stretch the parish is tiny and compact. The area would have been slightly better economically than the yards and warrens across the River Wensum, close by to the central core of the city. The occupations of the menfolk show it as an artisan's area full of craftsmen and trades. Nowadays the area is one of specialist shops and restaurants - a little decayed but a back-water from the core of the commercial city.

The church is a typicallate Perpendicular structure built on steeply sloping ground between St Benedict's Street and Westwick Street. It was commenced according to documentary evidence in the mid-15th Century. The church is now closed for worship, like so many in Norwich. It remains, however, a prominent feature of the street scene despite cringing behind fencing recently as neighbouring sites have been redeveloped