The parish of Sparham lies in the northeastern portion of central Norfolk roughly 3 miles southwest of the small market town of Reepham. Sparham sits just north of the A1067 road which links the city of Norwich with the town of Fakenham. The village almost sits within a cul-de-sac, its main access lane loops away from the A1067, passes through the main part of the village before rejoining further west, the only other exit is a narrow northeastward running lane towards Whitwell. Most of the village's properties line that looping main access road or the Whitwell Road. Like most Norfolk parishes Sparham is an arable farming village, early gazetteers estimate as much as 70% of the parish acreage as set to arable cropping with a tiny portion as pastures, the percentage today is remarkably similar. Sparham sits on a narrow ridge of land separating the Wensum valley, where its pastures lie, from the shallow valley of its tributary, the Blackwater.

St Mary's church sits at the junction of Well Lane and The Street, the forerunner of the Whitwell Road. The church is a fairly typical example of a Norfolk church almost entirely attributable to the 14th & 15th centuries, the post-Black Death boom in church building. The chancel's side windows and the priest's doorway are cited by Pevsner as near perfect examples of the early 14th century style, the Decorated style. Also early 14th century and similarly styled are the arcades of 4-bays and showing the octagonal piers and double-chamfered arches of that style. The remainder of the church is later and the product of a phase of enlargement documented by bequests recorded in wills of the mid 15th century, two important wills record donations of 1451 for the building of the new nave and one of 1481 for building of the new southern aisle. The early 14th century clerestory was also upgraded to Perpendicular styling and today's western tower built. For once Pevsner fails to mention a Victorian restoration so if one occurred it was certainly light and sensitive to the original styles. Well Lane is narrow but widens east of the church to allow careful street parking. The churchyard is faced by a low brick wall with a flint basal section and metal gates, the churchyard is open, uncluttered and with no obstacles for the photographer.