The village of Bulmer is situated about two miles from Sudbury, and the parish contains 2,880 acres. In the time of Edward the Confessor the name was written Bolemer; in 1330 it is called in several documents Bolomere, but in modern times it has been abbreviated to Bulmer.

The church occupies a good position at a little distance on the left of the road from Sudbury to Gestingthorpe; it is approached by an avenue of fine limes, and there is a row ol magnificent elms on the South. From the churchyard and neighbouring meadow a fine view is obtained of Belchamp Walter and its church nestling amid the trees, and over the Stour Valley of the woods at Melford, Acton, and the surrounding country. The Auberies Lane, running parallel with the main road, is noted for its picturesque appearance and ingenuous cool retreats, though recently much of the underwood at the top of the steep banks on either side, which used to meet over head, and presented a perfectly leafy bower, has been cut down.

The church is dedicated to St. Andrew, and is a plain stone building of the Early Decorated period, consisting of nave, with aisle (very narrow), chancel, and a rather low square tower almost covered with ivy. The principal feature of the church is the unusually large size of the chancel in proportion to the main building, occupying, in fact, nearly, if not quite, as extensive an area as the other parts of the church. The living was anciently a rectory, till it was given in 1425 to the Abbess and Convent of Bruisyard, in Suffolk, who, appropriating the rectory to their house, ordained a vicarage here; and after the  Suppression in 1538 King Henry VIII granted the rectory and advowson of the vicarage to Nicholas Hair and his heirs, from whom it has passed to various families. It is now held, with the livings of Middleton and Belchamp Walter, by the Rev, O. Raymond, who resides and does duty at Middleton. The curate who officiates and resides at Bulmer is the Rev. O. Raymond, Jun.

There was formerly a chantry in the church endowed with lands, which, on the suppression of the convent of Bruisyard, it were annexed to the manor of Butler‘s. In 1444 Thos. Shyborne, vicar, gave 20s. a-year for the repair of the vicarage house. He also gave several acres of land to purchase candles to burn upon the high altar and to supply 2s. yearly to be distributed to he poor. The vicarage house is situate on the turnpike road from Sudbury to Halstead. Near the church is a small school-house and two very pretty model cottages of red brick and timber, built by Mr. Burke, after the plan of the model dwellings erected near the Exhibition of 1851 by the late Prince Consort; they are supplied with every convenience, have five rooms each, and are let at a rental of £5 per annum.