Why it matters: The redesignation recognises the church's significance to both Ipswich and the wider region, acknowledging its thousand-year role at the heart of the town's community.
Key details:
The Reverend Tom Mumford, vicar of Ipswich Minster, will lead the church
Members of all councils in Suffolk and Ipswich MP Jack Abbott attended the ceremony
Comedian and heritage campaigner Griff Rhys Jones delivered a speech at the service
What they're saying: "It's about rearticulating a sense of vocation to the town, and in many ways we will continue to do exactly what we've done for the last thousand years," said Rev Mumford. "But I hope we will do this now with a renewed sense of passion."
Bishop Martin Seeley, who led the service, said: "Creating the Minster is a challenge to all of us to say 'what's the part I can play in building up Ipswich?'"
Looking ahead: The church will play a central role in 2025 when Ipswich marks the 825th anniversary of being granted its Royal Charter by King John.
The bottom line: While the redesignation elevates the church's status, leaders emphasise it's about service rather than prestige, aiming to strengthen the institution's role in bringing the community together.
