The parish of Barton Turf lies in eastern Norfolk about 4 miles northeast of the Broadland centre of Wroxham. Barton Turf lies at the eastern end of dead-end lanes running eastwards from the A1151 road which connects Wroxham with Stalham. Barton Turf gets its name from the peat diggings that created so many of the Broads of eastern Norfolk. Barton Broad, named for the village, is a large body of water which was created when the River Ant overflowed into the diggings in the dim and distant past. Other than the wildfowling, reed thatch harvesting and other water-based activities barton Turf was also typically arable in nature. The village is quite dispersed in nature with no obvious centre other than the group of buildings surrounding its eponymous hall.

St Michael's church does not lie in the village rather it is 3/4 mile southwest on the southern side of Church Road and surrounded by arable fields, a footpath connects the two which crosses same fields. The church is rather typical Perpendicular Norfolk in style and format with the standard layout of nave & chancel with western tower here augmented by 14th century arcades. Pevsner is loath to give it a date but the Perpendicular ran from late 14th to 16th century and the church is likely to be towards the early part of that range. The church has a curious situation being set back quite a way from its access road, a lonely lychgate graces that entrance and a tree-shaded pathway runs the 100 yards or so to the churchyard.