The parish of Burnham Overy lies on Norfolk's northern North Sea coast about 5 miles west of the port of Wells next the Sea. Burnham Overy stands about a half miles south of Norfolk's northern coastal road, the A149, although its subsidiary settlement of Burnham Overy Staithe lies on that road just to the east of that road's crossing of the River Burn. Burnham Overy has a rather split personality, being coastal it had economic life from the sea, a small port graced the staithe but was rather low in draft whereas inland a typical Norfolk agricultural regime of arable fields was supplemented by coastal grazing marshes. This combination of economies made for a relatively diverse community. As stated the parish has two distinct centres of population with Burnham Overy Staithe being the larger today although this was not always so. Today the coastal marshes are a a major visitor attraction with the North Norfolk Coast Path passing through the parish on its traverse of the coastline, Gun Hill & the dunes coast running towards Holkham are also a "Mecca" for bird watchers having hosted many major rarities over the years.

St Clement's church sits in Burnham Overy Town on a knoll overlooking the River Burn. The church is a rather curious anomaly having been subject to considerable change over the centuries, Pevsner describes it as "not coherent" as it is a challenge to identify the changes and sequence thereof. At the heart of the building is a Norman cruciform church of which only the central crossing tower remains. The nave and chancel, probably originally of that date where amended in the 12th and 13th centuries respectively by the addition of southern aisles. The southern porch and nave roof are 15th century whilst much else dates from the extensive restoration of 1835. The church stands on the northern side of Wells Road and is well screened by trees despite its elevated site. A gravel path rises to the building from a wooden gateway on that road to grant access, there are few photographic obstructions once inside.