The parish of Hedenham lies in southeastern Norfolk only a short distance from the county's border with neighbouring Suffolk, here formed by the River Waveney. Hedenham is located about 3 miles northwest of the Suffolk market town of Bungay and sits on the B1332 which connects Bungay through to the city of Norwich. Hedenham is a fairly well dispersed settlement, no defined village centre as such, some properties lie along the B1332 whilst others are scattered along the lane heading north towards Seething. Like most Norfolk parishes agriculture dominated the local economy, here it was a little more mixed than usual with roughly a quarter of the parish acreage set to pastures particularly either side of the Broome Beck which runs through the parish. The parish is dominated by the parkland of Hedenham Hall, the Broome Beck being tamed to create water features within that park. Hedenham's estate backs neatly on to Ditchingham Hall's grounds creating a continuous stretch of parkland following the Broome Beck.

St James' church sits just north of the Broome Beck on the eastern side of the Seething lane. The church is a fairly typical example of one commenced in the Decorated style of the early 14th century and finished or refurbished in the later style of the Perpendicular. In this example the chancel is clearly 14th century whilst the nave retains a single Decorated style window. The western tower, a rather skinny and vulnerable looking tower too, together with the southern porch are of the later Perpendicular style and are 15th century. Like most churches St James was heavily restored in Victorian times such that most external detail dates from those times. Church Road is fairly narrow but the verge is sufficient for a car to park just before the sloping gravelled track which leads through trees to the churchyard. Once within the churchyard is open and uncluttered with no obstacles to photography.