The parish of Suffield lies in northeastern Norfolk roughly 3 miles northwest of the market town of North Walsham. Suffield is a highly dispersed settlement, a small collection of properties sits on the southern edge of the parkland of Gunton Park Estate but elsewhere lies a scatter of farms and cottages, even the church is closer to neighbouring Colby than it is to the above settlement. All of these properties lie scattered along the eastern banks of a small tributary of the Bure, the Blackwater Beck, this stream forms the ornamental water-features within Gunton Park before running southwards to meet the Bure at Buxton. The immediate edges of the stream gave Suffield some pastures but eastwards lies typical Norfolk arable fields, the main economic earner for the parish. The clue to this dispersal lies to the south of the main settlement where church and nearby Suffield Hall reside (the hall is recorded by the farm's naming, Hall Farm), the parish was undoubtedly a closed parish with the majority of the land in single hands restricting inbound migration and as a consequence no nucleated settlement developed.

As already mentioned St Margaret's church sits well over a mile south of the notional centre of Suffield, the hall site close by, surrounded by typical Norfolk arable fields. St Margaret is slightly earlier than most Norfolk churches and contains some features from the 13th century Early English Gothic era, the chancel represents the main focus of this style and within has (as Pevsner states) a handsome double piscina and also has a characteristic lancet window of that era. Moving forward in time there are a few Decorated style features of the first half of the 14th century, represented mainly by the eastern bay of the northern aisle. The main body of the church and its tall western tower are typical Norfolk Perpendicular, the main body late 14th century whilst documentary evidence places the completion of the tower as late as 1523. The church shows 8 clerestory windows to each side, a typical Perpendicular feature designed to improve internal lighting. Similarly 16th century are the remaining medieval roofs, arch-braced in style. Like most churches there was a substantial Victorian restoration which mainly targeted the windows, the attractive east window of 4 lights is their work as are the non-medieval roofs. Internally there remains a 15th century screen showing saints, foliage and dragons, well worth a look in itself. Whilst the lane on which the church sits is narrow it has a broad verge which is well-used for visitor parking, the unfenced churchyard is open & uncluttered with no obvious difficulties for the photographer.