St Edmundsbury Cathedral

St Edmundsbury Cathedral is a focal point for many things in the town — worship, song, choirs, exhibitions. But it is first and foremost a place of worship. If you are feeling stressed or depressed, go spend an hour or so in this inspirational place with it’s lofted ceilings, its beautiful altar and its newly added and awesome spire. If you are lucky, you’ll hear the organist practicing, or a choir. During Christmas and Easter there are various musical events which are always sold out, because the acoustics in the cathedral are so good. I have always supported the Cathedral with donations whenever I visit. It is a place of sanctuary for me, where I can sit and talk to my God.

This is a curious organisation to be listed in a catalogue of (mainly) eating and drinking places. However there is a quite well patronised Cathedral Coffee Shop for snacks and light lunches. It is overpriced and not terribly welcoming, as such ecclesiastical money makers often are, and like many other cafes in town starts ostentatiously clearing up about 15.30. Throwing out time about 16.30, I think. Enter by the cloisters. The cathedral is worth a look, though mainly physically upgraded from a large Parish Church in the nineteen seventies and onwards at vast expense. the handsone church of St Mary’s just up the road, has a magnificent roof with angels, and houses the grave of Henry XV111’s sister Mary, who married Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, after dancing the ageing King of France to his death in three months. She was unconvincingly portrayed recently in a corny TV series called The Tudors, though it was only about her brother.

Ipswich is listed in Crap Towns of the UK