St Mary-le-Tower is the civic church of Ipswich, Suffolk, England and a Grade II* listed building.^[1][2] It was in the churchyard of St Mary that the town charter of Ipswich was written in 1200.^[3]

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St Mary-le-Tower
Saint Mary-le-Tower church
The tower of the church
St Mary-le-Tower Location in Suffolk
52.0584°N 1.1554°E / 52.0584; 1.1554
Location	Ipswich, Suffolk
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Central
Website	http://www.stmaryletower.org/
History
Dedication	Saint Mary
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	19 December 1951
Specifications
Spire height	176 feet (54 m)
Administration
Diocese	Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich

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Although medieval, the church mostly dates from 1860 to 1870, when it was rebuilt by Richard Phipson.^[4] Rebuilding was funded by George Bacon, banker and philanthropist. St Mary Le Tower is mentioned in the Domesday Book, demonstrating that the site has been occupied by a church since at least 1086.^[5]

The church contains a brass memorial on a chancel pier to H.A. Douglas-Hamilton, vicar from 1915 to 1925. There are also four brasses in the chancel floor.

The church has a large three-manual pipe organ, which has its origins in an instrument by Renatus Harris of 1690.^[6] There was subsequent work by Henry Willis, Spurden Rutt and Bishop and Son. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.^[7]

Originally there were five bells and a Sanctus in 1553 of which Miles Graye I of Colchester recast the Treble in 1607 and the Tenor in 1610. The church was the first in Suffolk to achieve a tower a peal of 12 bells in 1865. With the addition of a sharp second in 1980, the current bells are all by John Taylor of Loughborough (except for No. 7, which is by Mears & Stainbank of London).

• List of tallest buildings and structures in Ipswich