The parish of Marlingford lies in the eastern part of central Norfolk about 7 miles west of the city of Norwich. Marlingford sits on the banks of the River Yare just north of the B1108 road which links Norwich to Watton. Marlingford is not a compact village, it is spread over a broad triangle of lanes mainly on higher ground above flood levels in a meander of the river. As its name suggests its origins lie in the river crossing, nowadays a bridge with a former mill, that forded the Yare at this point.

St Mary's church sits just up the hill from the former ford at the entrance to Marlingford Hall grounds. The church is unusual for Norfolk in largely being in the Decorated style rather than the normal Perpendicular work, this dates the fabric largely to the early 14th century. The are signs of an earlier building still as the south doorway is Norman. However much else is Victorian or slightly earlier, the chancel rebuilt in 1816 and the north aisle of 1881.