Ipswich Blackfriars

Ipswich Blackfriars. . The Dominicans - The Order of Preachers - mendicants and evangelists with a mission to towns, formed by Dominic of Osma in Spain in 1216, first arrived in England during the middle part of the 13th century. Known as the Black Friars from the colour of their Habits., The Blackfriars Church was the first of the Friary buildings to be constructed in the late [illegible] century, built predominantly in septaria blocks (local mudstone) with limestone mouldings and quoins. The church, which was dedicated to St Mary, was longer than any of the surviving medieval churches in Ipswich, with a total length of 177ft (54m), the Choir being 30ft (9m) wide and the Nave 56ft (17m) wide., Chapter House , The Chapter House, a building second only in importance to the Church itself, was when the business of the Friars, both sacred and secular, was conducted. It was also the burial place of seven Priors, who had, in succession, been the head of the Friary., Sacristy , The Sacristy was where the sacred vessels, vestments, and valuables connected with the religious services were kept., Choir , The Choir was the Friars' part of the Church: here they held the Divine Office - the daily series of seven services and the long Night Office of Matins., Nave , The Nave was the public part of the Church, separated from the Choir by the Walking Place. Friary Churches emphasized preaching and so designed their Naves as halls with wide aisles and broad arcades. Over two hundred and fifty people requested in their wills to be buried in the Nave of this Church: "Robert Went, Dec. 21st. 1510, to be buried in the Blackfrlars' church here, before St Anne's altar; 6s 8d to the Blackfriars for his burial place." "Andrew Cursun, in 1511 to be buried in the blackfriars' church before the Image of St. Barbara.", The evangelistic Friars enhanced the status of one of the day services - Compline - as this took place at a time when the people of the town had finished work and were free to attend Church. The Screens separating the Choir and Nave were opened and the Friars went in procession into the Nave to join the assembled people for a Communal Blessing.