Nine fire crews were called to St Mary the Virgin in Wimbotsham, near Downham Market after the blaze coming from the church roof was reported at 6:00am Wednesday morning.
Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service put the fire out by 10am, part of the building was saved, but a spokesperson from the fire service said the majority had been "100 percent damaged".
Station manager Terry Pinto said: "We have been able to save some of the building through early intervention but it is a very sad day.
"Unfortunately the majority of the church is 100 percent damaged."
Wimbotsham parish councillor Anne Smith, whose mother is buried at the church, said it was very important to the village.
She said: "It is so sad, the church is really, really important to the village. Everybody has tried to pull together to make sure it stays here but now we have had this fire. It is just dreadful."
Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.