| St Mary-le-Tower | |
| Fullname: | Saint Mary-le-Tower church |
| Pushpin Map: | United Kingdom Suffolk |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 250 |
| Pushpin Label Position: | top |
| Map Caption: | Location in Suffolk |
| Location: | Ipswich, Suffolk |
| Country: | England |
| Coordinates: | 52.0584°N 1.1554°W |
| Denomination: | Church of England |
| Churchmanship: | Central |
| Website: | http://www.stmaryletower.org/ |
| Dedication: | Saint Mary |
| Diocese: | Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich |
| Heritage Designation: | Grade II* |
| Designated Date: | 19 December 1951 |
| Spire Height: | 176feet |
Ipswich Minster, also known as St Mary-le-Tower, is the civic church of Ipswich, Suffolk, England and a Grade II* listed building.[1] It was in the churchyard of St Mary that the town charter of Ipswich was written in 1200.[2]
Although medieval, the church mostly dates from 1860 to 1870, when it was rebuilt by Richard Phipson.[3] Rebuilding was funded by George Bacon, banker and philanthropist. St Mary Le Tower is mentioned in the Domesday Book, demonstrating that the site has been occupied by a church since at least 1086.[4]
The church contains a brass memorial on a chancel pier to H.A. Douglas-Hamilton, vicar from 1915 to 1925. There are also four brasses in the chancel floor.
The church has a large three-manual pipe organ, which has its origins in an instrument by Renatus Harris of 1690.[5] There was subsequent work by Henry Willis, Spurden Rutt and Bishop and Son. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.[6]
Originally there were five bells and a Sanctus in 1553 of which Miles Graye I of Colchester recast the Treble in 1607 and the Tenor in 1610. The church was the first in Suffolk to achieve a tower a peal of 12 bells in 1865. With the addition of a sharp second in 1980, the current bells are all by John Taylor of Loughborough (except for No. 7, which is by Mears & Stainbank of London).