St Pancras church interior
St Pancras Church stained glass
St Pancras Catholic Church Ipswich exterior
Altar of repose at St Pancras Church

Welcome to St Pancras

The Catholic Church serving Central Ipswich

Scroll down for: times of Masses & Confessions, for a link to the latest newsletter, for other news, and for suggested reading lists

A warm welcome from all at St Pancras, whether you are a new parishioner, a returning parishioner, or a visitor.

Deum diligere et quae sunt Dei.

'To love God and the things of God.'

Our parish church is a sacred space and a house of prayer, consecrated to the worship of God, where parishioners and visitors may deepen their love of God and the things of God.

A Catholic parish has just two purposes, namely to give glory to Almighty God, and to pray and work for the sanctification and salvation of souls.

Here, through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass - the re-presentation in time of Christ's expiatory sacrifice on Calvary two thousand years ago - souls are taught, sanctified, and ordered towards heaven. In the baptismal font, souls are cleansed of the stain of original sin, filled with grace, and made adopted children of God and members of His Church. In the confessional, souls are reconciled to God and absolved, and sins are forgiven. Souls receive the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit to become soldiers of Christ at the hands of the bishop in the Sacrament of Confirmation. Standing before the altar of God, a man and a woman are united to each other by the bond of God's grace, and their mutual love, in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, in order to bring new life into the world, new souls to know, love, and serve God in this world and to be happy with Him forever in the next. And here, the souls of the Faithful departed are commended to the mercy of God and into the keeping of Our Saviour's love during requiem Masses as their mortal remains are laid to rest, ready to rise again from sleep on the Last Day.

Through our prayers and devotions, through our charitable works and virtuous deeds, and by getting to know more about the Catholic Faith, we learn to praise our God with joy and serve our neighbour with gladness (Ps 99:2).

Through these things, by God's grace, and by seeking the things that are above and storing up treasures in heaven (Col 3:1; Mt 6:20), we are lifted up to a supernatural plane to become 'partakers of the divine nature' (2 Peter 1:4).  

Our church is open from approximately 7am to 7pm every day. See below for times of Masses and Confessions, and see our newsletter for full details. 

Fr Joseph

Our Lady of Ipswich, pray for us.

St Pancras, pray for us. 

Suggested Reading

New to the Catholic Faith? Read A Simple Outline of the Catholic Faith (Please email parishpriest[at]stpancraschurch.org.uk if you would like a hard copy of A Simple Outline. £5 each.)

For other reading suggestions, please click on the relevant link:

Introductory catechetical reading

Weightier theological reading.

Books on the Mass.

Books about the Faith for children.

Which Bible to read or buy

Spiritual reading.

Lives of Our Lord.

On Prayer.

News

Newsletter

Our Newsletter is published every Saturday. Please click here for the latest. (Recent newsletters may be accessed via our Newsletter page.)

Thought for the Week

The text of the sermon from:

Sunday, 1 December 2024 - First Sunday of Advent: Hearts blameless in holiness

What's going on at St Pancras?

Click here for the parish calendar

Quarterly Parish Magazine

The Michaelmas 2024 edition of our quarterly parish magazine can be downloaded by clicking here.

Latest Pastoral Letter from Bishop Peter Collins

Please click to read Bishop Peter's Pastoral Letter on Assisted Dying, November 2024.

Our Lady of Ipswich

Click here for a brief history of our new statue.

EVENTS

Advent Rosary & Benediction

Wednesday in Advent at 6:30pm. Meditations on the Joyful Mysteries, Advent hymns, and concluding with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

REGULAR GROUPS

Tea & Coffee

After the 9:30am and 11am Masses on Sundays, and following the rosary on Fridays. All welcome.

Church Cleaning Group

The group gets out its mops and dusters every Friday after the 10am Mass and rosary. Please come along and help whenever you can.

Wednesday Evening Talks

Suspended during Advent, the talks will resume in January 2025. Exploring the Catholic Faith through the Gospel of Luke. Tea & coffee available. Bring a Bible and something to take notes with. All welcome. 

Thursday Lunches

On 2nd Thursday of each month at 1pm (except in August).

Confirmation & First Communion Classes

Classes are open only to those who already attend Mass at St Pancras regularly.  

The registration window for this year's classes is now open.

Book Club

Meets quarterly at 7pm in the parish hall. All welcome. Next meeting: Monday, 9th December - Bruce Marshall's novel, All Glorious Within

Catholic Mothers' Group

We meet every 2nd Monday of the month at 11am for the five Cs: coffee, cake, conversation, catechism, and chaos. Next meeting: Monday, 9th December.

Catholic Young Adults

for 18-35 year olds. This group is enjoying an extended break at the moment. Watch this space for updates.

The Blessed Carlo Acutis Group

for 14-17 year olds. Next meeting: Thursday, 5th December at 7pm.

Times of Services

Sunday Mass times

Saturday 6pm Vigil Mass of Sunday

[8am (TLM) 2nd Sunday of the month]

Sunday 9:30am with hymns

Sunday 11am sung

Holy Days

Masses: 8am (TLM)    12:15pm    7pm (sung)

Confessions before each Mass. Rosary after the 12:15pm Mass.

Weekday Mass & Confession times

Confessions:

30 minutes before each Mass, and on the First Friday of each month 6pm - 7pm.

Masses:

Monday 10am - followed by the rosary

Tuesday 8am (TLM) - followed by the rosary

Wednesday 6pm - followed by the rosary (by devotions in Advent)

Thursday 12:15pm - followed by the rosary

Friday 10am - followed by the rosary (by the Stations of the Cross in Lent)

Saturday Mass & Confession times

MORNING

9:30am - Confessions

10am Mass - followed by devotions to Our Lady of Ipswich & S. Pancras

EVENING

Adoration & Confessions: 5pm - 5:45pm

Vigil Mass of Sunday: 6pm

How to find us

Parish Priest: Fr Joseph Welch

Church Address: 1 Orwell Place, Ipswich, Suffolk IP4 1BD

E-mail: parishpriest@stpancraschurch.org.uk

Telephone: 01473 252596

Maps and directions: click here

St Pancras Church

1 Orwell Place Ipswich Suffolk IP4 1BD

Parish Office telephone:
01473 252596

Email:
parishpriest@stpancraschurch.org.uk

Ipswich Hospital Chaplaincy:
In the first instance, call Fr Joseph on 01473 252596