Ipswich St Matthew?s church

Image: © Adrian S Pye Taken: 20 Mar 2009

A church with unusually pierced battlements on the tower should make it easily recognisable. However, it is often missed by drivers and passengers being partially hidden by trees. It is a much restored church, but, if you can, pull into the car park and have a look at the gloriously unique 15th century font. It has an octagonal bowl which is richly carved with double canopies of fine tracery and figures of ‘The Virgin’ at various stages of her life. The shaft is also carved, with evangelistic figures. In the north aisle, the screen incorporates six early 16th century panels from the old rood screen. Before restorations, there was, like St Mary Stoke and St Nicholas, a dormer window in the roof to light the rood; but it was probably allowing water into the building and it was not replaced when the roof was renewed.

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