The Fletcher Centre is a former manor house located opposite St. Matthew’s Church on Portman Road. It is home to the St Matthew’s Parish Office as well as other community organisations, and has rooms that can be booked for local functions and events.
The Fletcher Centre was opened in September 1986, with a vision to reach out to the community. There was pastoral care, hostel rooms, a coffee bar, children’s nursery, counselling team and a community sharing scheme. Prior to this the building was used as the rectory for St Matthew’s church. The Centre is named after Canon Fletcher, a minister who worked to support the local community at the turn of the 1900’s.
This vision of being a place for the community is still ongoing today. A variety of charities have their home in the Centre: Inspire Counselling, Perspectives Ipswich, Marriage Care Ipswich, and the Parkinson’s Society. In addition there are other groups such as Coffee Break, Seniors, Little Treasures, Home-group, Sanctuary and Living Water for those who live or work in the community.
The building has a number of rooms that are in regular use: a lounge, a kitchen, and meeting and counselling rooms. In addition individuals, church groups and organisations can book rooms for events, functions or meetings. There is also a flat that is let out, comprising three bedrooms, a lounge, a kitchen and two bathrooms.
In September 2016, we produced a 30th birthday short historical summary of the Centre’s work – if you would like a copy please contact the Parish Office.
If you’d like to book a room in the Centre, please contact the Parish Office (01473 251630, parishoffice@smast.org.uk). The voluntary Fletcher Centre Managers are Wayne Pickering and Kim Best.
Wayne Pickering
Deputy District Church Warden and Fletcher Centre Manager
