The nineteenth century parish church of St.Margaret keeps its fifteenth century tower, and its thirteenth century font with seventeenth century oak cover. The present structure was built to replace that destroyed earlier by a disastrous fire. The patrons are the Haberdashers’ Company and Christ’s Hospital. Of interest is a fine East window put in around 1871 to Kempe’s designs and a bust of Richard Garrett, of local iron works fame, of 1866. The church has a peal of eight bells which for many years were rung by the local company of ringers which included the brothers Bailey, and records of bell-ringing achievements, together with photographs, adorn the belfry. The Leiston Company of Ringers numbered 16 to 20 members, together with another dozen or so resident in the town, who were not attached to the local company, all of which made Leiston a noted ringing centre at one time. The Bailey brothers were fine expert ringers, who were trained in the art by other members of the company over many years. (More history here)
Other places of worship include the United /Methodist Church in the High Street which came into being following the closure of the Primitive Methodist Church in Prospect Place when the congregation was invited to join with their friends at the United Reformed Church for continuing worship. A modern Roman Catholic Church of All Saints has been built on the corner of Aldeburgh Road and Seaward Avenue; a Faith Baptist Church is located in John Street and the Society of Friends have a Meeting House in Waterloo Avenue. The Jehovah’s Witnesses have a Kingdom Hall in Carr Avenue.
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