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St Mary-le-Tower
Saint Mary-le-Tower church
St Mary-le-Tower Church Ipswich Suffolk.jpg
The tower of the church
St Mary-le-Tower is located in Suffolk
St Mary-le-Tower
St Mary-le-Tower
Location in Suffolk
52°03′30″N 1°09′19″E / 52.0584°N 1.1554°E / 52.0584; 1.1554
Location Ipswich, Suffolk
Country England
Denomination Church of England
Churchmanship Central
Website http://www.stmaryletower.org.uk/
History
Dedication Saint Mary
Architecture
Heritage designation Grade II
Designated 19 December 1951
Specifications
Spire height 176 feet (54 m)
Administration
Diocese Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich

St Mary-le-Tower is the civic church of Ipswich and a Grade II* listed building. It was in the churchyard of St Mary that the town charter of Ipswich was written in 1200.

History

Although medieval, the church mostly dates from 1860-1870, when it was rebuilt by Richard Phipson. 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.

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. 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.

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

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