English: St Mary's church - C20 stained glass by AL Moore. St Mary's church > https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1698910 consists of a nave, chancel, north and south transepts and a west tower. When the medieval structure was in a ruinous condition it was remodelled in 1852 by the architect Samuel Saunders Teulon (1812-73), who added an octagonal vestry > 1701036 on the north side of the chancel.

After the building was re-roofed a couple of years ago it is the interior that is presently under restoration, and hence not a very pretty sight > https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1701042. However, the wrought iron screens to tower and transepts > https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1701047 are unusual and worth seeing nevetheless. The chancel screen > https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1701045 consists of heavily encrusted woodwork sitting on an alabaster base. Unfortunately the tall reredos in the chancel blanks off most of the east window. The beautiful stained glass > https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1701057 - https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1701053 in all the other windows (except for the west window) is by AL Moore. It was installed in the early 20th century, replacing all glass and furnishings by Teulon.

Brettenham was an ancient site of some importance, as indicated by the presence of a series of Bronze Age barrows, known as the Seven Hills. There is also evidence of an Iron Age settlement, a large Roman market town and a 5th century cemetery. A significant Roman road, the Peddars Way, one of Norfolk's ancient thoroughfares, enters the county here.