Item we have began to lede our churche whiche hathe cost xxijs. The rest hathe great nede of ledying for y' reynythe in." us....... To these items is added, that in the year 1529, one Wm. Stysted, merchant, gave and bequeathed certain lands for the payment of twelve pounds to the priest, clerk and sexton, putting "hys trust in Lawrence his son having no more sons but hym" to continue the payment. Lawrence Stysted followed his father's bounty for twenty years and then refused to pay further. The conclusion of this business appears to have been that when the arrears had continued for two years, the parish paid one half and the remainder was taken out of the value of the church plate. The list of Curates for this church is imperfect. The following, however, have been collected A discrepancy appears in the dates of some of the appointments. In the list inserted in the church register the date of the appointment of the Rev. R. Canning is 1734, while on the books of the Registrar of the Diocese it stands as 1760. St. Lawrence does not contain any modern monuments of interest, though many of the chief inhabitants of the town are buried here. Over the entrance to the vault of the Sparrowe family is the quaint description, Nidus Passerum. The Register of Burials commences in 1539, May 26th, and the early entries are those of the Manns, Coppings, Sparrowes, Daundys, Blosses, and other individuals of local eminence in their day.* There are also a few entries of persons who died of the Sweating Sickness and the Plague. The first malady appears to have prevailed in the town in July and August 1551, and the Plague in 1602 and 1603.† ST. MARY TOWER is one of the most ancient churches in Ipswich, being mentioned as existing in the time of Edward the Confessor. At the foundation of Trinity Priory, the original church was annexed to that religious house. The name of this building is derived from its proximity to a tower on the ancient walls of the town, which ran about fifty yards to the north of the building, and nearly in a direction east and west. * 1542. "Thomas the sonne of Thomas Punder, buried the 12th February." This is a relative of Thomas Pounder, to whom the magnificent brass in St. Mary Key is laid down. 1602. "Margarett the wyfe of Nicholas Stampe, alive in the markett on Friday ye 7th of Maye which in two houres after deadye same day buried. 1603. Alexsander Bowham was buried the 17th of August, about the xj of the clok on the night, out of the Fryers, and dyed of the Plag." Y Y The church was styled in Domesday "Sc Maria ad Turrim." In 1661, St. Mary Tower, which had been surmounted by a spire, suffered considerably by a tempest. This spire was blown down on the 18th of February of that year, doing considerable damage, as may be found recorded in the books of the Churchwardens. The building as it at present stands has a tower, with a porch on the south side, a nave with clere story, two aisles, the north being a short one, and a vestry at the north side of the chancel. The interior is wide and lofty. The roof of the nave has probably displayed some good woodwork, but is now plain and unornamental. The roof of the chancel is coved, and painted to represent the firmament, on which is delineated an ornamental cross. The east window is a good example of the Perpendicular style, but the lower portion is hidden by an altar piece of a late and incongruous character. This church has within a few years undergone considerable reparation, in the course of which the excellent example of a Parclose screen dividing the east end of the nave from the south aisle was discovered. Previously a ponderous gallery stood on the spot, blocking up the upper part of the aisle and spoiling the fine open proportions of the building. Above the south door-way, on the exterior, is a large dial, the face of which displays the twelve signs of the zodiac and other designs, with an inscription of "The greater light to rule the day." At the east end of the north aisle is the Corporation seat, and until lately the Bailiffs' seat. It is exalted above all others, and surmounted by a carved entablature, supported by twisted pillars. Here resorted, when Corporate honours ranked higher in the scale of worldly dignities than they do at present |