St. Mary Redcliffe is among the biggest parish churches in Britain and home to one of the tallest parish church spires. Visit St. Mary Redcliffe to appreciate the talents of the craftspeople that made it possible and to understand its significance in the city’s ecclesiastical life. Attend a Mass service, enjoy organ concerts and watch wedding ceremonies.
The church stands above, and takes its name from, the red cliffs of Bristol’s historic Floating Harbour. Much of today’s church was built between the 13th and 14th centuries, although it was founded in 1115. During Bristol’s heyday as a maritime trading center, it was common for merchants and seafarers to pray for safe voyages at the church.
Dominating the church is a 292-feet (89-meter) tall spire, which is the city’s highest point. A lightning bolt struck the spire in 1446 and it stood in a damaged condition for over 400 years. Stone gargoyles, Gothic windows and spires adorn the exterior. Enter through the North Porch, notable for its hexagonal shape and niches decorated with statues of English monarchs.
Soaring arches frame the nave and support a delicately carved vaulted ceiling. See a scale replica of the Matthew ship used by John Cabot on his voyage to North America in 1497. Colorful stained-glass windows depict popular scenes from the bible. Don’t miss the wrought-iron gates, statue of Queen Elizabeth I and a whale bone found by Cabot during his discovery of America in St. John’s Chapel.
Visit on Sunday to attend choir concerts and on Thursday for organ recitals. Jazz music performances take place at the church café. Wander around the peaceful church garden and spot the grave of a resident cat. There’s also a piece of tramline embedded into the lawn, which landed here after a bomb explosion during a World War II bomb blitz.
St. Mary Redcliffe is a short walk from Bristol’s city center and Bristol Temple Meads train station. It’s open daily and admission is free. The church might be closed for wedding ceremonies, but you are welcome to observe from outside.
