This church will be a familiar sight to many travellers, as it sits above the busy Copdock Mill interchange between the A12 and A14. Despite this, its pretty churchyard is a peaceful place, mainly because the A12 lies in such a deep cutting. A little bridge over it will take you to the remote church of St Mary, Belstead, after about half a mile. In the other direction is the even more remote church of St Mary, Washbrook. So it seems that urban planning can sometimes be sympathetic.

All Perpendicular, all Victorianised. Someone must have thought the Roman brick in the right hand buttress would give it an authentic ancient touch. And they were right, of course.

St Peter is a fairly large, neat building, a testimony to the severe 15th century Perpendicular which first created it, and its almost complete refurbishment in the late 19th century. In fact, the most obvious parts of this restoration, the nave roof and gallery, were installed as late as 1901, to celebrate the glorious Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria three years earlier. Her death shortly before their dedication must have put a bit of a dampener on things.

The north of the church is a grand amalgam of 19th century vestries and 15th century transept. Some people frown on this kind of thing, but I like the sense of continuity.

St Peter from the north. Well, at least all the windows don't match.

The tower, then, is typically of its county and period, and the confidence of its builders is echoed inside by the beautiful ceiling of the transept, one of the few survivals from the original church.

St Peter, Copdock, is on the road from Copdock to Belstead. It is curiously difficult to find; leave Ipswich in the direction of Hadleigh, and then turn left at the roundabout for Copdock village. The church is not accessible from the Copdock Mill interchange. I found it locked without a keyholder, although I'm told that one is listed now.