St Mary-le-Tower is the civic church of Ipswich and a Grade II* listed building. It was in the churchyard of St Mary that the town charter of Ipswich was written in 1200. History Although medieval, the church mostly dates from 1860 to 1870, when it was rebuilt by Richard Phipson. 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. Memorials 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. Organ The church has a large three-manual pipe organ, which has its origins in an instrument by Renatus Harris of 1690. 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. Bells 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). Incumbents Thomas Peacock 1542 John Somerton 1555 George Webb 1577 - 1606 Nathaniel Roe 1608 - 1614 Mr Nuttall 1615 John Ward 1616 - 1620 John Gooding 1620 - 1624 Samuel Ward 1624 - 1627 Mr Skinner 1628 - 1630 Mr Raymond 1630 - 1632 Samuel Ward 1632 - 1635 John Ashborn 1635 - 1636 Gawen Nash 1637 - 1641 William Fincham 1649 Mr Chapman ???? - 1662 John Burrough 1662 - 1670 Hugh Roberts 1670 - 1672 Samuel Brunning 1674 - 1677 Samuel Gotty 1677 Joseph Cutlove 1678 - 1707 Dr. Thomas Bishop 1708 - 1737 Thomas Bishop 1737 - 1777 Thomas Cobbold 1778 - 1831, grandson of Thomas Cobbold (1708–1767) Francis Cobbold 1831 - 1838, succeeded his father William Nassau St Leger 1838 - 1860 Joames Robert Thurrock 1861 - 1890 Afthil Arthur Barrington 1890 - 1904 William Melville Pigot 1904 - 1914 Hamilton Anne Douglas-Hamilton 1915 - 1925 Arthur William Watson Wallace MA 1925 - 1928 Arthur Herbert Streeten MC MA