The parish of St Martin at Oak is one of those within the mediaeval city wall of Norwich. Occupying the north-western corner of the city in the old Saxon portion of the city known as Norwich-over-the-Water. Oak Street is the main thoroughfare which defined the area and donated its name to the church. During the period of the transcript this was a bustling artisan area with numerous yards crammed into the areas between the main streets. Nowadays it is trying to recover from being a largely factory dominated area with new developments of flats and town-houses once again raising the population levels.

St Martin at Oak church is quite late for a Norfolk church being primarily 15th century and in being Late-Perpendicular in style. The church was heavily damaged during World War 2 - the surrounding area being close to the Midland and Great Northern Railway yards and many factories - and as a result was much repaired in the 1950s. The church has ceased to be used for services and spent many years as a shelter for the homeless, recently the building has become used as artist's studios. It is only open for the general public during Heritage days.