Nominal: 1010 Hz Weight: 672 lbs Diameter: 32.31" Bell 1 of 3
Founded by Miles I Graye 1629
Dove Bell ID: 3583 Tower ID: 16122 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Ipswich: St Stephen
Overview
Grid reference: TM 164 444
The church is mostly Perpendicular, but was much restored in 1866 and 1881-2.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
West tower, nave with south porch and south aisle; chancel with south chapel continuing the line of the aisle and a north vestry and organ chamber.
Description of Archaeology and History
The church is mostly Perpendicular, but was much restored in 1866 and 1881-2.
Exterior Description
The tower is of three stages, with a doorway in the west face of the ground stage.
The south porch, although of the same depth as the south aisle, is differentiated from it by being given its own gabled roof. The aisle is wider than the porch, with five bays divided by buttresses. The three bays which correspond with the nave have wide three-light windows. The eastern part of the south chapel appears to be mid-eighteenth century, but much renewed. The window, set high in the wall, is rectangular with four-lights, also rectangular.
The east window of the chancel is more orthodox, with four lights terminating in decadent late-Perpendicular tracery. The stone-work is all nineteenth-century. A late-nineteenth-century vestry faced with flint conceals all the north chancel wall. The organ chamber which adjoins this on the west is built of brick.
Interior
Interior Description
The nave is wide, and the big windows in the north wall and beyond the arcade in the south aisle let in much light since there is no stained glass. At the west an arch opens into the tower space from which a small door gives access to the upper stages of the tower. The inner order to the tower arch is carried on corbels carved as angels holding shields.
The floor is tiled with nineteenth-century tiles, and the furnishings mostly date from the same period, including the plain pine pews, the altar table, organ, pulpit and lectern.
Of earlier architectural features in the nave, the south arcade is especially notable, with elegant piers of quadripartite section resting on moulded bases.
The roof of the nave is carried on simple curved brackets supporting beams with moulded under-sides. Each panel has cusping at the corners, giving the effect of a big flower behind the beams.
The chancel arch is chamfered, with additional wavy mouldings to the outer order on both nave and chancel sides only rising to the springing of the arch. The arch is further enhanced, and indeed the church is made to feel more spacious, by slender arched openings which have been formed, flanking the main arch. These are entirely plain, giving the effect of being cut in the wall.
The chancel gives a completely nineteenth-century impression. On the north side is an arch to the organ chamber with details copied from the south arcade with considerable precision.
The roof to the chancel is an attractive single hammer-beam design with moulded wall-plates. An unusual feature is that there is no step to differentiate the chancel from the nave, the floor running through the chancel arch at one level.
Fixtures and fittings
Font (object)
1934
The Font is octagonal, upon a plain moulded base. The faces of the bowl are carved with quatrefoils and the cover is a modern design in oak based on a Jacobean pattern of six scrolls surmounted by a cross finial.
Pulpit
19th Century
Lectern
Late 19th Century
The lectern is a late-nineteenth-century eagle of wood.
Bells
Nominal: 1288 Hz Weight: 448 lbs Diameter: 26.75" Bell 2 of 3
Founded by London foundry
Dove Bell ID: 26211 Tower ID: 16122 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1125 Hz Weight: 560 lbs Diameter: 29.31" Bell 3 of 3
Founded by London foundry
Dove Bell ID: 26212 Tower ID: 16122 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: TM 164 444
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
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