It is designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. The church stands in an isolated position on a crossroads north of the village, 6 miles south of Cromer, to the west of the A140 road.The church has been restored and is now part of Aldborough parish. It is used occasionally each year and the churchyard is still open for burials.
The church dates from the 14th century. The west tower fell in 1882, and was replaced by a vestry at the west end in 1924. The roof was re-thatched in 1984–85.
The church is constructed in flint and has a beautiful thatched roof. Inside there is a three-bay nave, a south porch, a chancel and a west vestry. In the west wall of the nave are two lancet windows. Along the south wall are three two-light windows dating from the 19th century in “decorated” style. On the north side is one similar window and a doorway. In the south wall of the chancel are a two-light window with Y-tracery, a priest's door, and a late medieval two-light window. The east window has three lights and dates from the 19th century. At the southeast corner of the church is a buttress through which is a passage. The south porch has two storeys, with the bell sited in the upper storey.
The nave roof is scissor braced, and the chancel roof is a hammerbeam. In the church are the remains of a rood stairway. The interior of the church is notable for its medieval benches with carved ends. The carvings include poppyheads, an elephant, barrels, mythical beasts, a man, a lion, and fighting dogs. On a wall are the remains of painted texts. Also in the church are a 19th-century fretwork screen, and communion rails with balusters. The font is medieval with an 18th-century cover.
Norfolk poet, George Barker, wrote a 30 verse poem about Thurgarton Church which he dedicated to the memory of his father. The first four verses are below:
You are looking for a bison hidden outside the boundary of the church. You will need to bring your own pen. The church is on a quiet lane and it is possible to pull in and park close to the church.
**************************************
For full information on how you can expand the Church Micro series by sadexploration please read the Place your own Church Micro page before you contact him at churchmicro@gmail.com.
See also the Church Micro Statistics and Home pages for further information about the series.
*************************************