Ipswich Historic Churches Trail

 

Do stop before you set out and look in at this redundant church which was once in danger of being demolished but has been restored to its new life as a TIO by the Borough Council. There is an interesting tomb memorial in what was once the chancel of the church on the north wall to Robert Leman and his wife (who sadly died on the same day as her husband). Also do look at the hatchments which are at the west end of the church and pick up a leaflet about this church with a very good explanation of what the hatchments are. It will help as you visit other churches. Before you leave look at the octagonal font, the octagon (8) is the symbol of Jesus unifying God and earth, and this is the reason you will find both fonts and pulpits octagonal in shape. Here God meets with man.

 

 Outside the T.I.O. turn left into St Stephen’s Lane and then turn right into Falcon Street. Keeping to this road, cross at the next traffic lights to the south side of the road. If you are taking this trail on either a Tuesday or a Thursday the Unitarian Church is open from 10am -4pm and on Saturdays from 12-4pm.

 Cross the road and continue to the end of Friar’s Street, cross Princes Street and bear right into Museum Street. Then cross Museum Street at the junction and turn left into Elm Street.

 

St Mary at the Elms is in a few yards on the right. Here you will find the Shrine of Our Lady at Grace. As you enter the church do look up at the new triptych over the main doorway which was finished in 2006. This church, which is in the centre of the business community of Ipswich, offers a place of meditation and quiet. Before you leave walk round this church; there is a sculpture on the grass to one side and a pathway leads you to the back of the church and to the oldest inhabited building of Ipswich.  

 

Retrace your steps towards Museum Street and turn left. With Museum Street Methodist Church on your left turn right into Arcade Street …then through the arch and into King Street. Turn left into Princes Street. All the architecture in this area is worth looking at so don’t forget to look up and see what is happening at roof level.

 

Turn right into Tavern Street, through the main thoroughfare and then first left into Tower Street. After a few yards do stop and look back, and you will see the highly decorative tower of St Lawrence Church, sadly now redundant.

 

In a few yards on the right you will come to St Mary le Tower with its great Victorian tower. There was a church here on this site as early as 1200 but most of what you see today is Victorian. Look for the churchwardens’ pews at the back of the church with their beautiful carvings.  When you leave this church, leave by the walk way at the east end of the church which is called Oak Lane, and then turn left into Northgate Street.  

 

At the road junction cross the road into Crown Street and cross at the traffic lights onto the north side of the road and turn right into Soane Street, walk past Christchurch Mansion and its park to St Margaret’s Church . This church was probably built by the Augustinian Order that was originally in the Priory built in Christchurch Park. This has to be one of the most attractive of Ipswich’s churches so do stop and look round the outside before you enter the porch. Inside the church look out for the font and the double hammer-beam roof.

 

On leaving this church retrace your steps, crossing Crown Street by the traffic lights and into Northgate Street.  Take the first turning on your left into Old Foundry Road and at the junction with the main road turn sharp right into Upper Orwell Street. Walk down this road until you reach the road junction with traffic lights. Turn right and in a few yards you will come to the Roman Catholic church of St Pancras .

Although the outside of this church is somewhat severe, the inside is a delight …and so is the notice on the door that boisterous and turbulent toddlers are welcome at their services!

 

Leaving St Pancras turn right into Orwell Place and in a few yards you will come to Christchurch . This church is only open Monday to Friday from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, but here you will find a church with a lovely atmosphere and a warm welcome. The galleries were once the seats of the children and the servants who came downstairs to the outside doors where the carriages awaited them.

 

Leaving Christchurch turn right and into Tacket Street,  cross Upper Brook Street and follow this road and walk past the bus station and turn left into Silent Street and then left again into St Peter’s Street. Cross the road junction by the traffic lights and enter the Church of St Peter . This fine medieval church, which stands at the edge of the new waterside development, is a redundant church looked after by the Historic Churches Trust. Look out for the font.

 

Leaving St Peter’s cross again at the junction with traffic lights and turn left and keeping to the pavement follow this road round and you will come to St Nicholas Church and Church Centre.  This now redundant church is accessible through the coffee shop and is now used for conferences and meetings.  Outside St Nicholas Church Centre turn left into Cutler Street and then cross into Silent Street and follow this road up until you join Falcon Street. Cross the road into St Stephen’s Lane and in a few yards you are back at the TIO.

 

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