The parish of Stody lies in central northern Norfolk about mid way between the market towns of Fakenham and Holt. Stody sits just east of the B1110 road which links Holt to East Dereham. Stody is a small parish in an area where churches are thick on the ground; there are probably 7 churches with two miles of Stody. Consequently the parish was relatively lightly populated despite the good agricultural land in which it sits. Stody is located in quite an undulating area for Norfolk with the rise in ground up to the glacial ridges running just inland from the north Norfolk coast. The village, which is little more than a hamlet, is sited on the south bank of one of the tributaries of the River Glaven which emerges into Blakeney Harbour just west of Cley next the Sea.

St Mary's church sits adjacent to the main rather narrow lane which runs through the settlement of Stody on a slight ridge between two streams. The standard layout of nave, chancel and western tower s topped off by a large transept, which scarcely seems in keeping with the size of the parish. The church seems to run in date order from west to east, the tower, a round tower is normally indicative of an early church, is dateable to the 12th century and shows later Decorated and Perpendicular additions. The chancel is also Decorated but is probably early 14th century and finally the nave and transept are pure Perpendicular and date from Norfolk's great church building period of late 14th and early 15th centuries. On its little ridge and tucked away behind a low flint wall the site has a few trees to its southern end with the graveyard left to mature for wildlife it is a haven of peace in the summer.