Thank you David Webb…. we loved your stories and seeing the famous Yellow Coat! (on Friday 10th December 2021)

A fundraising evening for the Ipswich Unitarian Meeting House.

David Webb, one of the Webb Twins, had a long and successful career in show business, with his twin brother Tony. They are best remembered as the twin Yellowcoats in the long-running TV series ‘Hi De Hi’ . Before that they appeared in theatres across the country with some of our best-loved performers including Dame Vera Lynn and Bruce Forsyth.

In his illustrated talk David tells of the early days in his career and how he and Tony ended up at Maplins Holiday Camp.

Tickets cost £12 (£10 for Friends of the Ipswich Unitarian Meeting House, if prebooked)

Contact bob.waller2255@gmail.com or 07732 00082

On Saturday 6th November the Meeting House will be open between 11am and 2pm so do call in and see this beautiful historic Grade One Listed building and the restoration work that has gone into ensuring its future. A qualified tourist guide will be there to answer your questions.

The Ipswich Unitarian Meeting House is only regularly open to visitors from May to September, but volunteers are very happy to open for pre-booked groups. Please contact our Secretary, Tessa Forsdike on 01473 728498 if you would like to make arrangements. We can also arrange special talks for the organised visits.

For details of services please refer to https://unitarianipswich.com

The Ipswich Unitarian Meeting House has been awarded a prestigious award from the Suffolk Preservation Society.

A Suffolk Heritage Championship Award has been given to the Trustees ‘in recognition of their significant contribution to conserving the county’s heritage’ and securing the buildings future and accessibility to all.

The award will be presented in May 2022.

Congratulations to all involved!

The Ipswich Society Winter Talks programme at the Museum Street Methodist Church is starting up again on October 20th with a talk on the restoration of the Ipswich Unitarian Meeting House by Stuart Edgar of KLH Architects – the lead consultant on the project. Our Grade I Listed Meeting House was put on the Heritage at Risk Register in 2018 and Stuart will tell us the story of its restoration, completed by May 2021, including illustrations from the original investigation report and the craftsmanship and skills involved in the completion of the project. 

The talk is free and all are welcome. Just a reminder that the Methodist Church is accessed via Blackhorse Lane and, due to covid-19 precautions there, we are requested not to arrive before 7pm for a 7.30 start. The venue has also asked for an idea of numbers in order to organise seating as safely as possible, so please could you contact the Ipswich Society Secretary (secretary@ipswichsociety.org.uk) if you wish to attend. 

On the weekend of Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th September the Ipswich Unitarian Meeting celebrated the completion of the huge restoration project they had been through. On the Saturday the new Friends group was launched at an event which included a presentation by the architect of the work, Stuart Edgar from KLH Architects, a local company, and Trustees.

The audience heard the story of the work, undertaken by experts, to the fabric of the building, including windows, roof and walls. More about this work is on the Meeting House website.

Tessa Forsdike (Secretary of the Trustees) also thanked the many funders and supporters who made the project possible and introduced the Friends, inviting those attending to join. Everyone then enjoyed champagne, tea and cakes in the Meeting House garden.

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Thank you to Willis Towers Watson for their sponsorship of the launch of the Friends of the Ipswich Unitarian Meeting House.

It was lovely to see so many visitors on Saturday 11th September for Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride and on Sunday 12th September for Heritage Open Day. Thank you to all our volunteers.

Missed it? The Unitarian Meeting House is open for visits …..

In 2020 the Ipswich Unitarian Meeting House was mid-restoration when Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride was held…. but volunteers found a way to get involved!

On Saturday 11th September 2021 those taking part will be able to see the Meeting House in its full glory!

If you want to walk or cycle around Ipswich … and pay us a visit…. go to http://www.shct.org.uk for more details.

We will be officially launching the Friends of Ipswich Unitarian Meeting House at the celebration event to mark the completion of the restoration project.

On Saturday 25th September at 2pm there will be a chance to hear from those involved in the work, (builder, architect etc) and see for yourself this amazing building.