The parish of Irstead lies in eastern Norfolk about 3 miles south of the small market town of Stalham. Irstead is a rather small village, lacking most amenities, sitting on the western banks of the River Ant where it leaves Barton Broad. Irstead is located about 2 miles east of the A1151 which connects Wroxham with Stalham and is accessed by its own dead-end lane, this is quite an isolated community for Norfolk. Irstead's economy would have been based around agriculture but good farmland was only a small proportion of the area of the parish, much was marshland and indeed Barton Broad. This watery location lead to employment in wildfowling, reed collection and transport along the navigable waters of Norfolk's Broadland. Irstead parish was a typically small Norfolk Broadland parish, it covered just over 1,000 acres but 120 of these was occupied by its share of Barton Broad, it would, however, have supported a population of around 150 parishioners.

St Michael's church sits at the end of the narrow and winding lanes leading to Irstead and is sited almost on the banks of the Ant. The church is slightly early for a Norfolk church having largely been constructed when the Decorated style was fashionable, the early 14th century. The main body together with the western tower dates from that century whereas the southern aisle is Perpendicular and maybe a century later. Like many Norfolk churches the Victorians made their expected restorations, in this case two, the first in 1839, the second in 1844. The church has a small pull-in at the end of the lane. The churchyard is surrounded by a low brick wall and entrance is at the southwestern corner, The churchyard has many trees which somewhat restrict the angles available for photography.