The parish of Great Ryburgh lies in central Norfolk in the valley of the River Wensum, just south-east of the market town of Fakenham The parish is a long strip of houses and cottages lying along an east-west road which leads up from the bridge crossing the Wensum. The core of the village, with church & pub, lies closest to the river and the village has expanded westwards from there. There is quite a rise in height (for Norfolk) with the western end being some 60 feet higher than the river crossing.

St Andrew's early origins are indicated by the solid Norman round-tower, always an indication of an early church in Norfolk. Much of the main body of the church is typically Perpendicular indicating an expansion or enlargement of an earlier simple church. The church lies close to the river at the junction with the narrow lane which follows the south bank. The church seems strangely hemmed in on a tight bend and in a seemingly too small graveyard.