Gillingham parish sits in south-east Norfolk on the banks of the River Waveney, the border with Suffolk. The parish probably has more connections to Suffolk, being the satellite village for Beccles, than with the rest of Norfolk. The village is now split by the broad A146 Norwich to Lowestoft road, which separates village from St Mary's Church.

St Mary's sits to the east of the A146 up a little cul-de-sac and is placed on a low rise with a commanding view of the grazing marshes of the Waveney valley. The church is early, with the majority Norman, but was extensively refurbished in the 1860s.

These records were transcribed from Microfilm MF738 in the collection of the Norfolk Record Office. Whilst not a recent filming the images were reasonably clear and with acceptable contrast.

Subject to the usual caveat regarding the handwriting of the various encumbants, this was a relatively straight-forward transcript. It is to be hoped that few errors will have crept in.