Chapels.—The twelve parish churches, and the chapel of ease just described, have seat room for about 8,500 persons; and there is accommodation for about 10,000 in the sixteen other places of worship in the town, of which four belong to Baptists, three to Independents, two to Wesleyans, and one each to Roman Catholics, Unitarians, Friends, Primitive Methodists, Swedenborgians, and Jews.
Tacket Street Independent Chapel was erected in 1720, by the Presbyterian congregation, who had previously, for more than 40 years, occupied a small chapel in the Green yard, St. Peter’s, and were the successors of the Nonconformists, who were so called from their refusing to subscribe to everything contained in the Book of Common Prayer, as required by the Act of Uniformity, passed soon after the restoration of Charles II. This chapel will seat about 800 hearers, and has a good organ and a burial ground. Near it is a house for the minister, the Rev. W. Notcutt, whose grandfather officiated here till his death in 1756, in his 84th year. The Independent Chapel, in St. Nicholas’ street, is a neat Gothic structure, which was opened in 1829. It has about 1000 sittings, including the galleries erected in 1839 and 1845. The Rev. J. Raven is the minister. Salem Independent Chapel, in St. George’s street, is small, and the Rev. J. Gay is its minister.
The Unitarian Chapel, in St. Nicholas’ street, is one of the oldest chapels in the town, and has a beautifully carved pulpit, and about 1,200 sittings. Its congregation originated from the meetings of the Nonconformists about 1660, and was for many years Presbyterian, but the chapel was not built till 1700. The Rev. Henry Knott is the present pastor.
The Friends’ Meeting House, in Bank street, was built in 1796, and will seat about 700 hearers.
The Roman Catholic Chapel, on the Woodbridge road, was erected in 1825, and enlarged in 1839, chiefly at the expence of its first priest, the Rev. P. L. Simon, one of the refugees who left France at the commencement of the Revolution, and resided here till his death, in September, 1839. It is a small building in the early English style, with sittings for 700. Its priests reside at Stoke by Nayland.
The Baptist Chapel, in Dairy lane, was built by a congregation of Baptists formed in 1758. It has 800 sittings, and is under the ministry of the Rev. Thos. Poock. Zoar Chapel, in David street, was built in 1841, by the Baptists who seceded from Dairy lane chapel in 1829. It cost about £900, and has 500 sittings, but no pews. Turret Lane Chapel, erected in 1842, belongs to the Particular Baptists, and is under the ministry of the Rev. Isaac Lord. Stoke Chapel is the largest of the four Baptist chapels in Ipswich, and was erected in 1774, but has since been rebuilt and several times enlarged, so that it will now seat about 900 hearers. It is an octangular building, and is now under the ministry of the Rev. J. Webb.
The Wesleyan Chapel, in New Market lane, was erected in 1816, and is a neat brick building, containing about 1000 sittings. The Wesleyan Association Methodist Chapel, in Friar street, was built in 1837, for about 850 hearers; and the Primitive Methodist Chapel, in Rope lane, was built in 1839, and has about 500 sittings.
The Jews’ Synagogue, in Rope lane, is a small brick building with pointed windows. The Jews have a small burial ground in Salter’s lane, and Mr. Levy Lamburgh is their rabbi.
The New Jerusalem Church, in High street, is a small building erected in 1847, by Swedenborgians, and now under the ministry of the Rev. D. G. Goyder, M.D.
The Plymouth Brethren have a meeting room in Prince’s street.