St Mary-le-Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary-le-Tower |
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| Saint Mary-le-Tower church | |
The tower of the church
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 St Mary-le-Tower
Location in Suffolk
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| 52°03′30″N 1°09′19″E / 52.0584°N 1.1554°E | |
| 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 a very old and important church in Ipswich, England. It's known as the "civic church" of Ipswich, which means it plays a special role in the town's official events. This church is also a Grade II* listed building, meaning it's a historic place that is protected. A long time ago, in the year 1200, the town's official charter (a document giving Ipswich special rights) was even written in the churchyard of St Mary-le-Tower!
Contents
A Look Back in Time: History of the Church
Even though St Mary-le-Tower is a medieval church, much of what you see today was built between 1860 and 1870. A person named Richard Phipson was in charge of rebuilding it. A kind banker and helper named George Bacon paid for the rebuilding work.
The church is so old that it's even mentioned in the Domesday Book. This was a huge survey of England ordered by William the Conqueror in 1086. Being in the Domesday Book shows that there has been a church on this spot for at least 900 years!
Special Plaques: Memorials Inside the Church
Inside the church, you can find special plaques and carvings called memorials. These are put up to remember people who were important to the church or the community.
- One brass memorial is on a pillar in the chancel (the area near the altar). It remembers H.A. Douglas-Hamilton, who was the vicar (a type of priest) from 1915 to 1925.
- There are also four other brass memorials set into the floor of the chancel.
The Mighty Organ: Music in the Church
St Mary-le-Tower has a very large pipe organ. It has three keyboards, which are called "manuals." This organ is very old, with parts of it dating back to 1690! The original organ was made by a builder named Renatus Harris.
Over the years, other famous organ builders like Henry Willis, Spurden Rutt, and Bishop and Son have worked on it. You can find all the details about this amazing instrument on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Ringing Out: The Church Bells
In 1553, the church had five bells and a smaller bell called a Sanctus bell. Some of these bells were recast (melted down and made new) by Miles Graye I of Colchester in the early 1600s.
St Mary-le-Tower was the first church in Suffolk to have a "peal" of 12 bells in 1865. A peal means ringing all the bells in a special, long sequence. In 1980, another bell was added. Most of the current bells were made by John Taylor of Loughborough, except for one bell (number 7), which was made by Mears & Stainbank of London.
