It traces its roots in an unbroken line to the diocese of Dunwich founded in 630. In common with many Anglo-Saxon bishoprics it moved, in this case to Elmham in 673. After the Norman invasion it moved to Thetford in 1070 finally moving to Norwich in 1094.
It covers 577 parishes with 646 churches covering all of the county of Norfolk save for the extreme west beyond the River Great Ouse that is part of the diocese of Ely. It includes the deanery of Lothingland, (the port of Lowestoft and its immediate hinterland) is in the county of Suffolk. This totals an area over 1,800 square miles with a population (2001) of some 815,000.