Who we are
St. Matthew's Church in Ipswich is a vibrant Church of England congregation. We offer a warm and inclusive environment for people of all ages and background.
Whether you're seeking spiritual guidance, community connection, or simply a place to worship, we invite you to visit us.
Our Mission is...
to impact lives for Jesus
As a church, we will encourage and build one another up, to live and speak for Jesus on our 'frontlines', communicate the Good News of Jesus, and deepen our faith and walk of discipleship.
Our Services
10:00am Sunday Mornings
Join us at 10:00 AM for a friendly, uplifting time of worship! You'll enjoy contemporary music, heartfelt prayers, meaningful Bible readings, and an encouraging message. Communion is part of our Sunday services, except on the second Sunday of each month.
10:30am Tuesday Mornings
Join us every Tuesday at 10:30 AM for a brief, peaceful communion service. Everyone is welcome to attend our prayer team.
Featured events
Messy Church and Messy Meet
Messy Church is great! It’s a time of play, crafts, interactive stories from the Bible, games and fun for children and their families. We meet 3 times a year (Easter, 31st October and Christmas). All ages are welcome.
Messy Meet is FUN! It is a time to relax and catch up with friends, over tea and toast. We meet after school, on a Tuesday, 3.15-4.30pm.
A responsible adult needs to attend with a child/children.
Children and Young People
St Matthew’s has a range of activities for children and young people – they’re at the heart of our community. Sunday School (ages 3-11) and the Youth Group (years 6-13) are held on the 1st and 3rd Sundays.
Home Groups
A Home Group is a small group of church members (about 8 or 10 people) who meet together mid-week often in someone’s home – hence the name. The aim of a Home Group is to deepen our relationship with God and each other.
Top Up Shop
St Matthew’s Top-Up Shop is held every Thursday at 9am in our church. The shop provides food items collected from major supermarkets and Fareshare, including fresh fruits and vegetables, cans of tuna, soup, packets of cereals, and bread. You can fill a bag with whatever you need for just £2.
Men's Breakfast
The Men’s Group at St Matthew’s hosts breakfast meetings once per month, in the church, 8:00-9:30 am, on some Saturday mornings, often on the 3rd Saturday.
Community Mornings
Every 3rd Saturday from 9:30 to 12:00, we roll up our sleeves for a fun morning of sprucing up the church grounds! Whether it’s a bit of gardening, litter picking, or tidying up, there’s plenty to do—and we’d love your help. Come along and join the team! Refreshments are on us, of course!
plan a visit
Here is some information that might be helpful if you are visiting for the first time.
Where can I find you and where can I park?
St Matthew’s church main entrance is on Portman Road, just up from the Ipswich Town football club – the church postcode is IP1 2AX. There is pedestrian access from Civic Drive, just opposite the New Wolsey Theatre. Ample parking is available in the adjacent St Matthews School (through the blue gates, up the slope) or on near-by streets, and bikes can be locked to the railings to the right of the main entrance.
What happens when I arrive?
If you are visiting us for the first time, there will always be someone at the door to welcome you and guide you to a seat or answer any questions.
Is there wheelchair access?
We have no pews and the church is completely flat so if you come in a wheelchair we can make room wherever you would like to sit. There is an accessible toilet and baby changing room.
How long is the service?
Our 10.00 am service generally finishes around 11.20, and afterwards you are welcome to stay and enjoy refreshments with us.
What about my children?
We believe that children and young people are a crucial element of our community; they are at the heart of all we do. From babies all the way up to teenagers, we create tailor-made environments, crafted around the requirements of each age-group. It’s a chance to hang out with others their age, make friends and run through an age-specific programme.
Each Sunday (except 4th Sunday of the month) there are children’s activities for years R-12 led by our led by our children’s team who all have DBS (safeguarding) checks.
Have a look at our children and young people page for more details.
Meet OUR team
Got a question? Need someone to talk to? Our friendly team are here for you.
Rev Canon Nick Atkins
Rector
Rev Ruth Best
Assistant Priest
Rev Lorna Penaluna
Curate
Andrew Revitt
Ordinand
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