East Window, Kesgrave
All Saints church in Kesgrave vividly demonstrates what can happen when a church becomes too small for its community; originally this would have been a more remote, rural parish serving a small population and thus was never a large building. Kesgrave however has long been absorbed into Ipswich's outer suburbia and thus serves a far larger population than ever before. The church was thus extended quite dramatically in 1980 with a large transept-like projection to the south which more than doubles its former capacity.
From the main road the church still appears as it has done for centuries, a simple nave and chancel with an attractive 16th century red brick west tower (along with a surprisingly large north porch). The modern changes are only apparent when one views the church from the south where the 1980 brick extension that replaced the south side of the nave is more dominant.
Within the church the transformation is much more obvious, the former building must have been a very narrow space and the large new space opening up on the south side gives it much greater flexibility and a more sustainable future. The former chancel remains intact but is screened off for use as a separate chapel, and is now enlived by a delightful abstract window installed in 2016 by Rowland Warboys.
This church I believe is normally kept open and welcoming to visitors, but I timed my first visit badly as the Sunday service was about to begin. I am therefore all the more grateful to Simon Knott for suggesting we come here too following our visit to the nearby Catholic church, I especially enjoyed seeing this imaginatively re-ordered church and loved the modern glass. Fuller information can be found on Simon's site below:-
East Window, Kesgrave
All Saints church in Kesgrave vividly demonstrates what can happen when a church becomes too small for its community; originally this would have been a more remote, rural parish serving a small population and thus was never a large building. Kesgrave however has long been absorbed into Ipswich's outer suburbia and thus serves a far larger population than ever before. The church was thus extended quite dramatically in 1980 with a large transept-like projection to the south which more than doubles its former capacity.
From the main road the church still appears as it has done for centuries, a simple nave and chancel with an attractive 16th century red brick west tower (along with a surprisingly large north porch). The modern changes are only apparent when one views the church from the south where the 1980 brick extension that replaced the south side of the nave is more dominant.
Within the church the transformation is much more obvious, the former building must have been a very narrow space and the large new space opening up on the south side gives it much greater flexibility and a more sustainable future. The former chancel remains intact but is screened off for use as a separate chapel, and is now enlived by a delightful abstract window installed in 2016 by Rowland Warboys.
This church I believe is normally kept open and welcoming to visitors, but I timed my first visit badly as the Sunday service was about to begin. I am therefore all the more grateful to Simon Knott for suggesting we come here too following our visit to the nearby Catholic church, I especially enjoyed seeing this imaginatively re-ordered church and loved the modern glass. Fuller information can be found on Simon's site below:-