St Mary, Woodbridge Road facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary, Ipswich |
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| Saint Mary | |
Saint Mary's church
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| Location | Ipswich, Suffolk |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Weekly attendance | 900 |
| Website | http://www.st-mary.org.uk/ |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Mary |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia |
St Mary's Church, also known as St Mary Woodbridge Road, is a Catholic church located in Ipswich, England. It is a very important church in the town. It has the largest group of worshippers in Ipswich. In fact, it has the second largest group of worshippers in all of Suffolk. The church's parish hall is special. It was once the very first Catholic church in Ipswich after a big change in history called the Reformation. St Mary's Church is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia.
The Church's Beginning
St Mary's Church was started by a French priest named Abbé Louis Pierre Simon. He had to leave France because of the French Revolution. This was a time of big changes and trouble in France. Abbé Simon came to Ipswich to teach. A kind Catholic woman, Miss Margaret Wood, offered him a place to stay. They became good friends.
Building a Community
During the French Revolution, it was hard for Catholics to practice their faith openly. Père Simon, as he was also called, worked hard to bring local Catholics together. He helped them form a strong community. After the wars in France ended, Père Simon decided to stay in Ipswich. He wanted to dedicate his life to helping the people there.
He bought a house on Albion Hill, which is now called Woodbridge Road. This house is now used as a convent for nuns. Even though some people in the town did not like the idea, Père Simon built a small chapel. He named this chapel after St Anthony.
Expanding the Chapel
The chapel was officially blessed on August 1, 1827. Many people attended this special event. Soon, the chapel became too small for everyone who wanted to worship there. So, it was made bigger. They added more space to the north and south sides. The new part of the church opened directly onto Woodbridge Road. This new main area, called the nave, was 76 feet long.
The expanded chapel was blessed again on October 10, 1838. This time, it was dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus. That is why the church is called St Mary's.
Père Simon and Margaret Wood are still remembered today. There are special plaques for them in the parish hall. This hall is part of the church they helped to create.
