Minister's Message
Minister’s Message – August 21, 2022
Back in Queen Victoria’s day, Tacket Street Congregational Chapel was the poshest Nonconformist place of worship in Ipswich. It wasn’t where the so-called “County Set”, the landed gentry and gentleman farmers attended: they attended the Parish Church. But Tacket Street was where you’d find the merchants, the business owners, the folk who made their money in trade (although possibly without dirtying their own hands in the process!) On Sunday mornings these highly respectable people would make their way to the Chapel for worship; they would return home to a sumptuous lunch and then engage in “improving” – but never frivolous! – activities such as reading, leading a “Pleasant Sunday Afternoon” meeting for the poor (intended to keep them out of the pubs) and finishing off by singing hymns around the piano. No work was to be done on a Sunday; entertainment and humour were strictly forbidden. For this was the Sabbath, the day of rest, dedicated to the worship and contemplation of God.
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