The Ark Church Ipswich

Who we are

A welcoming church with a practical heart for its community

The Ark is a multicultural, multigenerational church based in central Ipswich. We share the message of Jesus in a way that is creative and relevant, and we put it into practice through the work we do with local children, young people and families.

Many of the young people we work with today are the children and grandchildren of families we first supported in 1984. That long relationship with the community shapes everything we do.

We are part of Together for Ipswich, a network of churches working together across the town.

Our work in the community

What we do

All of our community work is run by volunteers from the church, working alongside local schools and support agencies.

A volunteer teaches a child to play the guitar — Guitar lessons at St Michael's Community Centre

Children's Church Ministry

Primary and high school children · Sundays and Mondays

Sunday school every week, plus a healthy lunch partly served by older young people
New Monday club, 5–6pm at the church
Art classes and creative workshops led by church members
Half-term and summer trips, with parents taking part

Friday Youth Club

Ages 11–18 · Murrayside Community Centre

Started in 2018 in response to a gang-related murder in Ipswich
Moved to the larger Murrayside Community Centre in 2022 because so many children wanted to come
A safe space with basketball, table tennis, pool and games

Murrayside Spartans

Youth basketball team · formed 2024

Two volunteer coaches run training and matches. The team has played its first games in the local league, building skill, teamwork and confidence.

Food support

Families in need

Food parcels for local families, and food hampers distributed through local schools.

Family courses

Parents, couples and newcomers

Care for the Family: Time Out for Parents, Marriage Preparation and The Marriage Course
Alpha, for anyone exploring questions about life and faith

Outreach and pastoral care

Vulnerable people in Ipswich

Volunteers with the Bus Shelter homeless project and Ipswich Town Pastors
Pastoral support for teenagers through school and into adulthood
Referrals to local support agencies where needed

Our story and vision

Bringing St Michael's back to life

Two visitors in hard hats at the old pulpit inside St Michael's — The original pulpit, still standing

Three volunteers in hard hats clearing around a stone column — Clearing around the original columns

1984
Serving local familiesThe church begins its long relationship with families in Ipswich.
2010
St Michael's damaged by fireThe Grade II listed St Michael's church in central Ipswich is badly damaged by fire and left derelict.
2018
Youth Club opensThe Friday Youth Club starts at our former premises, The Drift in Nacton, after a gang-related murder in the town.
2021
Fundraising target reached in one monthIn November, the target to buy St Michael's church and community centre is reached in a single month, raised mainly by the Bibleway UK group of churches and other church friends.
2022
The Ark buys St Michael'sThe purchase of St Michael's church and St Michael's Community Centre completes on 1 July. The Youth Club moves to the larger Murrayside Community Centre because so many children want to come. Sunday services now take place in the community centre.
2024
Murrayside Spartans formedA youth basketball team with volunteer coaches joins the local league.
Next
Restore the churchRestore the building as a home for worship at weekends and a community centre during the week.

What the restored St Michael's will provide

A weekday Family Learning and Education Centre
An art and music school offering tuition to young people who could not otherwise afford it. Musical equipment has already been bought.
An environmentally friendly coffee shop to help the centre pay its own way
A place for weekend worship

Restoration in pictures

The work so far

Church members, volunteers and partners have been clearing, securing and planning the restoration of St Michael's since 2022.

A large group of volunteers in hard hats in front of the scaffolded church — A volunteer work day at St Michael's

Volunteers in hard hats behind a pile of burnt timber — Volunteers clearing burnt timber from the church

Four volunteers in work gloves inside the church ruins — Bishop Baltimore Green, Miss Brown, Mel Richards and Penny Gordon

Two visitors look up at the burnt roof timbers — Surveying the fire damage

A group listens to a man in a hard hat explaining plans inside the church — Talking through plans for the building

Two visitors beside the carved stone font — The original stone font

Three people stand among the debris inside the church — Planning the restoration

A woman walks through a stone arched doorway into the church — Stepping inside St Michael's

A volunteer in a hard hat with a drill beside the site safety notice — Securing the site

Church members in hard hats inside the community centre — Church family at St Michael's Community Centre

Weekly timetable

Services and activities

Day	Time	What	Where
Sunday	10:30–11:30am	Adult and children's Sunday school	St Michael's Community Centre
Sunday	11:30am–1pm	Morning service	St Michael's Community Centre
Sunday	5–6pm	Evening service, with light refreshments after	St Michael's Community Centre
Mon–Fri	5:50–7am	Destiny and Ark prayer line: prayer, teaching and discussion, all year round	Zoom ID 724 102 4212
Monday	5–6pm	CCM Monday club for children New	St Michael's Community Centre
Wednesday	8–9pm	Bible study	Zoom ID 838 261 7050
Friday	7–9pm	Youth Club, ages 11–18	Murrayside Community Centre, Nacton Road, IP3 9JL

Every Sunday: worship, prayer and preaching. For St Michael's Community Centre, please use the rear entrance on Bond Street. Contact us for Zoom links.

Leadership

Meet the team

The Ark is led by our pastor and trustees, supported by volunteers who run our children's, youth and outreach work.

Penny GordonPastor

Penny has been part of the Ark family since 1984 and works with our children's and young people's ministries. She hosts our parenting and marriage courses and is our safeguarding lead.

Clare EadeTrustee

Clare has been part of the Ark church family for 39 years. She has a heart for the homeless and vulnerable, has volunteered with the Ipswich Bus Shelter project for many years, and is a Town Pastor.

Jenny JacobsTrustee and Treasurer

Jenny has been part of the Ark church family for 25 years and a Christian for 40. She has been our treasurer since 2019, and is an educator and a lifelong learner.

Volunteer leadsMinistry teams

Children's Church, Youth Club and High School Management teams, plus two volunteer basketball coaches.

For funders and partners

Key information

The details grant-makers, councils and partner organisations usually ask for, all in one place.

Organisation: The Ark Church, Ipswich (registered as The Ark of the Lord)
Legal status: Registered charity and registered company
Charity number: 1145572
Company number: 07703498
Address: St Michael's Community Centre, 23 Upper Orwell Street, Ipswich, IP4 1HN
Governance: Led by Pastor Penny Gordon, with trustees Clare Eade and Jenny Jacobs (Treasurer)
Area served: Ipswich and the surrounding area
Who we help: Children, young people aged 11–18, families in need and vulnerable adults
Accounts: Prepared by KABD, Ipswich. Latest annual accounts available on request.
Safeguarding: Safeguarding policy in place. Safeguarding lead: Pastor Penny Gordon. Policy available on request.
Networks: Member of Together for Ipswich
Current priority: Restoring St Michael's church as a Family Learning and Education Centre
Contact: arkipswichuk@gmail.com · 01473 590230

Get involved

How you can help

Volunteer

We are looking for workshop leaders and volunteers in art, music, fitness and mentoring.

Give

Donations go towards our community work and the restoration of St Michael's. Contact us for bank details.

Partner with us

We work with local schools and agencies. If your organisation supports families or young people in Ipswich, we would like to hear from you.