Bristol Walking Tour - Churches

Even though they seem to have little function today it's hard not to be impressed with the overwhelming scale and grandeur of ancient churches. Bristol has many examples, some nothing more than a pile of ancient rubble, some bombed-out skeletons, some still standing proud but no longer with a congregation and a very few are still open for services. By no means a complete list, here are a few we've come across during our walks.

This one is St. John on the Wall, built in the 12th century as one of five churches built into Bristol's city walls. It's the only one of the five to remain. It is possible to enter the church and visit the 14th century vaulted crypt beneath although it wasn't open the day of our visit.

Just up Broad Street from St. John on the Wall is Christ Church with St. Ewen, All Saints and St George (Church of England). It's the only Church left in the Old City that holds regular services. It was built between 1786 and 1791 and is probably the third church on this site. Its location is on the hill-top of what was once the centre of the original walled town. We took this photo on Christmas Day when the doors were open, lights were on and people were arriving for services. The ring of ten bells was being played by hand, not that expertly, but, delightful nonetheless. It's not often you hear church bells rung by hand these days. Normally, on the two plinths beside the clock, there are two 'quarterjacks' which hammer out a tune on the quarter hour. Unfortunately, they are out for restoration right now and we were unable to see them.

Bristol Cathedral grew from an Abbey on its site that was built in 1140. Some portions of this building remain. The Cathedral is known for being a medieval 'hall church', with the vaulted ceilings in the nave, choir, and aisles all at the same height.

There are many different buildings on the Cathedral site, all stunning.

St. Mary Redcliffe (Anglican) is another very substantial and impressive Church, constructed from the 12th through the 15th centuries.

The two most poignant examples though, were the Blitz-bombed churches of St. Peter's and Temple Church. St. Peter's is the most visible as it sits in a prominent position in Castle Park, just adjacent to the main shopping area of Broadmead. During the Bristol bombing of November 1940, the roof caught fire and the church was ruined. What remains is maintained as a monument to the civilian war dead of Bristol.

Temple church is hidden away, so, not as visible, but, it is also a loss of great significance. One 'benefit' of its destruction was that it enabled archaeologists to prove that within the walls of the old church was another, earlier, round church that was built here, as part of a monastery in the 1130s, by the Order of the Knights Templar. Only nine of these round churches were ever built in Britain.

Don't know the name of this church, but, it dominates the area at the foot of the Bristol Bridge.