The parish of St Swithin lies in western Norwich, one of a series of tiny parishes that line the city's St Benedict's Street, that street, in turn, follows the ancient Roman road which crosses Norwich from west to east. St Swithin's parish was not one of Norwich's poorest parish being mainly occupied by artisans rather than the hordes of weavers that characterise the poorer areas across to the north of the River Wensum. Despite this St Swithin still carried its share of Norwich's notorious "yards" where dozens were packed in tiny properties set between and behind the street frontage. Today St Benedict's Street has lost some of its former prosperity as a shopping street but has become a home for the specialist shops and restaurants that flourish in the lower rent areas of large cities.

St Swithin's church is nowadays deconsecrated and has been re-purposed as an arts venue, all of the former interior fittings removed to create an audience chamber. It is a church with a fateful history, built largely during the 14th & 15th centuries, as were so many of the city's churches, the nave and chancel combined were supplemented by a western tower, this had to be demolished in 1881 as sewerage work was found to have undermined its footings. By 1905 the church was derelict and liable for demolition itself but the church was restored in 1908. Sadly the congregation dwindled but at least the church has found new life in its vibrant arts performances and is a popular venue accordingly.