On 7 September 2025, whilst on holiday, I visited the Unitarians whose late 17th century meeting house stands back from Friars Street in the middle of Ipswich.

It was built in 1699 and is Grade 1 listed. I was slightly late, but was made very welcome and led to an original box-pew near to the organ.

The congregation was not huge, a little dwarfed by the sheer size of the hall which had a magnificent Grinling Gibbon-esque pulpit. There are the original wig pegs and spy hole, plus a large, brass chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

I had a very pleasant discussion during tea and biscuits after, and managed to get a lift to the station, too!

Jane Simpson