Catalyst Church was founded on 7th January 1980 by Pastor Vince and Denise Esterman.
Pastor Phillip and Mandy Mutzelburg were the senior leaders who led the church for 21 years until February 2010. 
Pastor Carl Mutzelburg together with wife Pastor Jess Mutzelburg, led Catalyst Church for 14 years, finishing in April 2024.

Pastor Mark and Cheryl Wilson began their leadership of Catalyst in May 2024.

  
The church has had a unique opportunity to help establish Ipswich as a well known spiritual centre around the world. The founding minister Vince Esterman moved from Ipswich to Paris, France where he has established a network of over 20 churches.

Catalyst Church is situated in the old Suttons Foundry at Brassall, Ipswich. When the church purchased the property, most onlookers wondered what the finished product would be like. Years later the church location is undoubtedly one of the most innovative in the city, with significant development and improvement of our community facilities planned in the next few years. Visitors are continually surprised by the retention of the original character of the foundry while rebuilding to serve all the needs of a growing church community.