St Peter's parish in Thetford is at the centre of this market town of 3 parishes. Thetford is situated in southwestern Norfolk on the banks of the Little Ouse river and is the capital of the region of Breckland, which includes large portions of adjacent Suffolk. The border (formerly the river and through the heart of Thetford) now has been redrawn to the south of Thetford's urban area for administrative reasons. Thetford is a historic market town with a long history of occupation (indeed some place its origin before Norwich) and a priory and castle to show for it. The town grew especially in the 1960s having been chosen as an "overspill" town for the excess population of the London conurbation, this experiment has been of mixed success with social issues making the town often a problem.

St Peter's church stands in the centre of the town at the junction of King Street and White Hart Street in a rather urban setting with its western doorway flush to the pavements. The church has its origins in the 15th century and the majority of the fabric is in the Perpendicular style of that period. It would seem from historical sources that the western tower became a danger to the public as in 1789 the cracked... and very weak" upper storey was rebuilt. Detailing of the late 18th century throughout the church shows this was no minor refurbishment but an attempt to restore and revive the church. The church sits partially behind a low flint & brick wall and partially in the street (White Hart Street). The site is rather urban and cramped with the council offices to the east and commercial premises to the north making for a tricky subject best viewed from the streets themselves.