The parish of Overstrand lies in northeastern Norfolk forming part of its North Sea coastline, along which it runs for almost 2 miles as a thin strip of land. Overstrand is located roughly 2 miles southeast of the coastal resort of Cromer. Despite this being a large cliff-bound coastline, here made from rather easily erode-able sands and glacial deposits, the inhabitants were largely devoted to exploiting the nearby North Sea for their income. The parish was notable for its herring and crab & lobster fisheries with boats being drawn up onto the beach at the conclusion of each trip. The soils hereabouts are loose and sandy, rather infertile for Norfolk, and consequently they were unsuitable for arable farming prior to the dawn of modern fertilisers, the landscape was largely used for pastoral grazing until recent times. Today Overstrand is very much a coastal resort with the typical infra-structure to support the weekend break and short stay market, a safe sandy beach being a great attraction for families in particular.

St Martin's church sits on the un-numbered lane which here forms Norfolk's coastal road, it is on the western approaches to the village en route in from Cromer. The church has had a chequered history having been almost derelict and nearly demolished as recently as the 18th century. A replacement church, Christ Church, was built to replace it but it too was demolished and St Martin restored. Whilst at its core is a typical 15th century Norfolk Perpendicular church there is much to the structure that is a result of that rebuild completed during 1911 - 1914, The rebuild incorporates much of the 15th century fabric but also added a northern aisle and enlarged the nave as well as relocating the northern porch to the southern side. A small lay-by sits just east of the churchyard which is separated from the road by a typical flint & brick wall with metal gates at the village's end of the site. The churchyard is fairly narrow from north to south making some of the better landscape views from outside the site.