'Ipswich will hold a huge place in my heart'

A vicar said his parish and the wider town would "hold a huge place in my heart" as he announced he would be leaving after five years.

The Reverend Tom Mumford, vicar of Ipswich Minster, has been in his role since 2021.

On Sunday it was announced he would be leaving for a new role in York alongside his wife Laura who would also be taking on a new role as a vicar.

Mr Mumford said the response to his leaving had been "overwhelming".

He explained that his wife Laura, also a priest, had felt an "increasing sense of call" to go into a parish as a vicar too.

"As a priest you work on the basis of a sense of call," he explained.

"Two jobs came up that seemed to work for both of us. She will be a parish priest and I will be working for a bishop up in York. We felt we had to go for it."

Mr Mumford added he could not wait to see his wife "flourish and grow" in her new role.

He will be supporting the Bishop of Selby in York, with his last service in Ipswich being on 8 March.

During his five years, Mr Mumford oversaw the church redesignated from being known as St Mary-le-Tower to the Minster.

He said he had also carried out 25 baptisms and more than 30 confirmations, mostly for young adults, of which he said it had been "a joy" to see them come into faith.

"It has been the most amazing five years and I leave here with the heaviest heart," he continued.

"I don't really want to go if I am honest, but I feel this is a call upon Laura and on both our lives.

"This is an amazing place; so much has changed over this time."

He added: "It's also been great fun to engage with the wider town and the community... this is a town that will always hold a huge place in my heart and I hope one day to come back."

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