The parish of Burnham Thorpe lies in northwestern Norfolk just over a mile southeast of the small market town of Burnham Market. Burnham Thorpe lies in the valley of the River Burn which bisects the village with properties paralleling on either side. Burnham Thorpe sits around a mile east of the B1355 which connects Burnham Market with the larger market town of Fakenham. Burnham Thorpe has a degree of renown as the birthplace of Admiral Nelson, his father being the minister here at the time of his birth. Other than that incident Burnham Thorpe would have been a fairly typical Norfolk agriculural parish albeit the usual arable was augmented by some pastures along the riverside. Today Burnham Thorpe, like the other Burnhams is dominated by second homes being an attractive place to spend weekends away with the marshy coastline little more than two miles away to the north.

All Saints' church sits at the northwestern end of the village enclosed within the sweeping curve of Church Lane. Unlike many Norfolk churches All Saints can trace its origins back to the 13th century, represented by the arcades which are in the Early English Gothic style showing round pillars and capitals. The aisles and chancel come from the following century and show the Decorated style of the early 14th century. A clerestory was added in the Perpendicular style to allow more light within. The western tower, which also shows Perpendicular styling, is, in fact, a rebuild the original tower having fallen in the 18th century the present tower was rebuilt in 1842. A substantial restoration in the 1890s is the final act in creating the present building. The church sits behind the usual flint & brick wall, here little more than knee-height, the churchyard is open and with no obstructions to photography.