The parish of Gunthorpe lies in central northern Norfolk roughly midway between the market towns of Holt & Fakenham, being 5 miles west of the former and 7 miles northeast of the latter. Gunthorpe sits about a mile south of the A148 road which links those two towns. Gunthorpe is a small crossroads village dominated by the grounds of its eponymous Hall, the present building was remodelled in the late 18th century for the Reverend Collyer. Most properties are, however, grouped loosely around the junction of lanes linking Gunthorpe with both the A148 and the equally small villages of Sharrington and Brinton. Like most Norfolk parishes the main staple of the economy was arable farming and today this continues to dominate the local landscape. The grounds and economy of the Hall and its occupants would also have provided income and employment opportunities.

St Mary's church sits northwest of the village by more than a quarter mile on the eastern side of the lane that connects the village with the A148, Sharrington Road. Whilst St Mary has remainders of the medieval it is a church much modified during the Victorian era. The nave and western tower remain from the Perpendicular period of the late 14th century, indeed Pevsner speculates an earlier origin as the doorways are styled more typically of c1300. The 19th century, however, saw much work on the church. The attractive flushwork parapets to that western tower were added in 1808 but it was Victorian rather than Georgian work that saw the major change. As part of a general restoration in the 1860s the pre-existing chancel was demolished and rebuilt albeit reusing one Decorated style window, indicative of a late 13th or early 14th century origin to the previous nave. Besides the rebuilt chancel the work added the southern porch, re-roofed the exterior and replaced many of the internal fittings including chancel screen and pulpit. At the site a grassy area is set aside besides the churchyard for parking making for an extended visit, the churchyard, within its typical flint & brick wall, has few obstacles for the photographer.