The parish of West Winch lies in western Norfolk about 3 miles south of the port of King's Lynn. West Winch, previously a small village and now a growing suburb of King's Lynn, lies on the A10 road which leads south from King's Lynn towards Downham Market & Ely. West Winch sits along a line of communication that has been long utilised namely the line of the valley of the River Nar which swings northwards just south of the village and parallels the Ouse to the port. This line is also followed by the A10, which keeps to slightly drier ground, and the King's Lynn to London railway line. The village of West Winch sits some 10 metres above the river on an area of carrstone which gives sandy and rather infertile soils, nowadays modern fertilisers and machinery have defeated these soils and the area is largely arable, previously it would have been a mixture of heathland and pastures.

St Mary's church sits alongside the A10 and to its east, the fine western tower sits close to the road and is quite a landmark for the (often slow-moving) traffic along the A10. The church is quite early for a Norfolk church which much fabric dating back to the 1300c. The building shows the whole evolution of styles from Early English Gothic, through the Decorated period to the principal church building era of the Perpendicular style. The chancel shows the earliest period and roughly the age of the church decreases as you pass through to the Perpendicular western tower. The standard design is augmented by a southern arcade. The church sits behind a low local stone wall, indeed the whole site makes extensive use of local Carrstone, and is within quite a snug site permitting few chances to get back to admire its features as a whole.