The parish of Southery lies in the extreme southwest of Norfolk forming a stretch of the border with neighbouring Cambridgeshire and sitting within Norfolk's portion of The Fens. Southery is located roughly 7 miles south of the market town of Downham Market, it formerly sat on the route of the A10 road (London via Cambridge to King's Lynn) but, thankfully, this road now passes the village to its west. Southery is quite a large village, an out-and-back road leaves the A10, its former route, and returns to it south of the main portion of the village, in addition to this loop the B1160 heading eastwards has a few properties lining it. Crossing The Fens in ancient times was a perilous trip and the route of the A10, keeping to slightly higher ground, was one of the safest ways northwards through there, Southery was thus ideally situated to act as a way-station for travellers. The area around the village is intensely cultivated and much is reclaimed from its watery origins through the works of man. One of the main rivers, the Great Ouse passes close by to Southery and the London to King's Lynn railway sought a similar route through the area. With rich peaty soils the land is intensely cultivated, in addition to staple crops there are expanses of land devoted to table vegetables with onions, leeks & brassicas abundant.

The original St Mary's church stood 300 metres east of today's parish church, it was described in early gazetteers as "a very ancient structure, with a wooden screen separating the nave and chancel" but today little besides a few walls remains. The present parish church of St Mary stands at the junction of Church Lane & Churchgate Street towards the southeastern corner of the village. Built in 1858 it is a neat building largely expressing its presence in the delightful use of the local umber sandstone ("carrstone") in thin tiles. The stone gives a pleasant glow in evening sunshine. The church has lancet style windows, in the main, an indication of, perhaps, the Early English Gothic style of its predecessor. The centrepiece of the church is its lofty square western tower complete with broach spire. Churchgate Street is of sufficient width to allow on-road parking immediately outside the churchyard which is surrounded by wrought iron fencing with brick posts. A few scattered trees are dotted about but create no obstacle for the photographer.