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St. Mary Redcliffe Church

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GB from Devizes
GB from Devizes
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4 out of 5
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2
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Editor Pick

The Fairest, Goodliest and Most Famous Parish Church in England

  • February 5, 2009
  • Rated 5 of 5 by barbara from Atlanta, Georgia
The Fairest, Goodliest and Most Famous Parish Church in England

Queen Elizabeth I was right to heap such great praise on St Mary Redcliffe in Bristol. Built in the form of a cross, this medieval church still has sections standing from the 12th century. Not as large as many English cathedrals, the work of stone masons gives the building a sense of height and space. The detailed attention that has been given to the architecture here through centuries is one of those things that always makes me marvel about the power of faith. I mean, it boggles the mind to contemplate how much time had to have gone into the construction of the vaulted ceiling with no modern equipment. Yet no shortcuts were taken.

Bosses that act as functional keystones to hold the weight of a ceiling mostly erected in the 1400s gave artisans an opportunity to shine in this church. If you aren't familiar with what a boss is, it looks like a small carving the size of a spread hand that is connected by lines to other small carvings on a vaulted ceiling. Bosses can be quite lovely, and St Mary Redcliffe has over a thousand of them. Since my son is a fan of mazes, the first boss we sought out on our visit to the church was one that he had seen in a book about mazes in England. It's a boss with a gold maze that you can find near the Lady's Chapel.

Another point of interest for us as Americans was the fact that this church has a big connection to what would become the colonies. Admiral William Penn, father of the William Penn who founded Pennsylvania, is buried in this church. Also, there is a stained glass window that shows John Cabot's ship, The Matthew. John Cabot had his voyage on which he discovered what is modern day Canada funded by merchants from Bristol. He brought a whalebone back from his adventure to donate to the church as homage for a safe journey. In fact,it's thought that the word "America" for the continent may have come from the name of the Sheriff of Bristol, Richard Ameryck, who was connected to Cabot rather than from the minor Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci. I had never heard of Ameryck before my visit to St. Mary Redcliffe, but I think it's a credible theory.

We spent a little more than an hour admiring this church. You can go on a self-guided tour, and I'd suggest doing this though I also bought another book in the small gift shop that gave more detail about a building that is rich in history. It seemed in every chapel there was something that was worth finding like the Handel window which was erected to the great composer's memory since he used to play the organ at this church.

Outside in the yard you'll see a tramline that they've left embedded in the ground because the Luftwaffe almost destroyed the church during WWII. Yet, somehow, the building was unscathed.

Truthfully, the thing I like the most of all about St Mary Redcliffe is that it is still a working church. It has not turned into a museum, and you can feel the pulse of the parish that still gives the place a living soul.

If you're interested in seeing this church, it's open Mondays-Fridays from 9-5. Again, it's a working church, so on Sunday you can attend service. Check their website for times: www.stmaryredcliffe.co.uk

From journal Beautiful Bristol

Editor Pick

St. Mary Redcliffe

  • November 17, 2004
  • Rated 3 of 5 by GB from Devizes from Devizes, United Kingdom
St. Mary Redcliffe

St Mary Redcliffe is a stunning beautifully preserved church built in the Gothic style in the 14th century. It occupies a lofty position in the heart of the old city, and for some, is considered to be the chief place of worship in Bristol, over and above the cathedral.

The spire was added in the 19th century and rises 285 feet above the street. Queen Elizabeth the First visited Bristol and announced that it was "the fairest, goodliest and most famous parish church in the kingdom".

It is in every way comparable in size to a cathedral, with its 240-foot nave, open parapets, and massive flying buttresses.

Although Bristol was extensively bombed during World War Two, the church sustained little or no damage. It did however come perilously close on Good Friday, April 12th, 1941, when a massive bomb exploded in nearby Cumberland Road. Such was the force of the explosion that a huge length of iron tramway was torn up and projected through the air for over 300 yards, coming to rest embedded in the church grounds. That same iron track is still there today, 6 feet showing above ground and several feet buried beneath, with a simple plaque explaining its existence.

From journal Bristol-End of the Line for Mr. Brunel

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