St Mary-le-Tower explained

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]

History

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]

Memorials

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.

Organ

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]

Bells

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).

Incumbents

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.stmaryletower.org.uk/ official website
  2. http://www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/stmaryletower.htm St Mary Le Tower
  3. The Buildings of England; Suffolk. Nikolaus Pevsner. Yale University Press.
  4. Web site: St. Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich | 267586 . https://archive.today/20150128170806/http://www.emporis.com/building/st-mary-le-tower-ipswich-united-kingdom . dead . 28 January 2015 . Emporis . 2022-05-03.
  5. The Organ, its History and Construction. Hopkins & Rimbault. 1st Ed: 1855
  6. Web site: The National Pipe Organ Register - NPOR.