The parish of Great Cressingham lies in southwestern Norfolk about 6 miles southeast of the market town of Swaffham. Great Cressingham is a large and compact village sitting on the eastern banks of the infant River Wissey and the eastern edges of Norfolk's Breckland. Great Cressingham sits about a mile east of the A1065 road which connects Swaffham with the Suffolk town of Brandon. The village is built along a lane that connects the A1065 with Watton on rising ground mainly to the east of the river, albeit its popular inn The Windmill & adjacent camping site is on the western side. At the time of this transcript this would have been a farming area, the soils noticeably sandier than eastern Norfolk would have dictated more grazing and, in particular, warrening of rabbits. Today the area is dominated by arable fields with cereals, oil seed and beet the major crops.

St Michael's church sits towards the eastern end of the village, it sits inside the fork of the junction of the Watton lane with Priory Drove. The church has its origins in the 13th or early 14th century, the notable feature of that period being the chancel together with the arcades. The church, however, received a massive rebuild during the Perpendicular period of architecture and the nave & tower date from this rebuild. Various dates can be discerned from documentary evidence but Pevsner is confident this rebuild took place between 1430 & 1460. Like most churches in Norfolk there was also a rebuild or restoration in Victorian times, in St Michael's case in 1885, resulting in the present building. The church sits on the northern side of a sweeping bend in Great Cressingham's main lane surrounded by a chest-height flint & brick-topped wall, gates set into Priory Drove grant access, the churchyard is relatively free from obstructions making it easier for the photographer.