This weekend (Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th September) will be a busy weekend at the Ipswich Unitarian Meeting House.

Saturday: The county-wide annual event ‘Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride’ is on between 9 and 5pm and the Meeting House will be welcoming cyclists and walkers as they journey between church and chapels (and Meeting Houses) on their chosen route. Everyone is welcome to join in. The details of how to support the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust fundraising event, which gives grants for church buildings (and ours is one who has benefited) are on www.shct.org.uk including details of the churches open across Suffolk and a photo competition for participants.

Saturday and Sunday: The Meeting House will be open as part of the Heritage Open Days Weekend. It is open to visitors on Saturday 9-5pm) and on Sunday everyone is welcome to attend the service between 1030-1200, or come and have a look at our wonderful building between 12 and 4pm. For full details of Ipswich buildings open over the weekend take a look at:

http://www.ipswichsociety.org.uk/events/2018-heritage-open-days-ipswich/

The Willis Building, also Grade One listed, and our next door neighbour will be open too, on Saturday 10-3pm and on Sunday 11-4pm

As if Everything were a Miracle – a collection of poems by Peter Watkins

Carol Service by Candlelight – Saturday 18^th December at 6pm. All welcome – the candelabra will be lit, the tea lights will be battery powered this year rather than naked flame (after all our restoration work!) and the atmosphere will be superb. This is a carol service with a difference – with contributions from the congregation of songs, readings (from varied sources), poems, music and more, along with the chance to sing all the traditional carols to your heart’s content. Do join us!

Congratulations to everyone associated with the Ipswich Unitarian Meeting House and its big restoration project. They have won another award – with Distinction – this time from The Ipswich Society.

Representatives of the Trustees, KLH Architects and builders Valiant, attended the prize-giving at The Hold, Ipswich, where they received their certificates from the Mayor of Ipswich, Councillor Elizabeth Hughes.

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!