A 'Snetesham' is mentioned in the Doomsday Book and it is believed that there was probably a church here before St. Mary's.

This church was built about 1340, though the list of Vicars of Snettiisham which is inside the church dates from before this time.  

The church is built of flint in the Decorated style.  The spire which measures 175 feet was not completed until 1390 because of the Black Death which hit Norfolk during 1348-49.

The spire can be seen from miles around and in centuries past was used as a landmark for ships plying the wash.

The Galille Porch has three slender arches.   

The magnificent West Window is one of the finest examples of its style in the county.  The tracery forms patterns like tongues of fire.  

The church used to extend beyond the current east window by another 40 feet, unfortunately the chancel was destroyed towards the end of the 16th century.

During the First World War most of the windows on the south side on the church were shattered as a result of a bomb being dropped by a German Zeppelin on the 19th January 1915.

A modern cathedral in Frederiction New Brunswick Canada is modelled on the Snettisham church.

There is an interesting ghost story attached to the church.