| St Mary Redcliffe | |
.jpg/200px-St_Mary_Redcliffe_(600px).jpg)
St. Mary Redcliffe from the north west |
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  Shown within Bristol
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| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Bristol, England |
| Geographic coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Religious affiliation | Anglican |
| Ecclesiastical status | parish church |
| Architectural description | |
| Year completed | 12th century |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 240 ft |
| Width | 44 ft |
| Width (nave) | 59ft |
| Height (max) | 54 ft 9 inches |
| Spire height | 292ft (90m) |
St Mary Redcliffe (grid reference ST591723) is a large Anglican parish church located in the Redcliffe district of the English port city of Bristol, close to the city centre. Bristol ( ˈbrɪstəl is a city, Unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. The following is a list of Religions and spiritual traditions, however it excludes modern religions which can be found in List of new religious movements. Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs Ecclesiastical polity is the operational and governance structure of a Church or Christian denomination. A parish church, in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a Parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches In Romanesque and Gothic Christian Abbey, Cathedral Basilica and church Architecture, the nave is the The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using Latitude and Longitude Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs A parish church, in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a Parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches Redcliffe is a district of the English port city of Bristol, adjoining the city centre. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Bristol ( ˈbrɪstəl is a city, Unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London The church is Grade I listed,[1] the tallest building in Bristol, and the second tallest parish church in the country after St James in Louth. A listed building in the United Kingdom is a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural historical or cultural significance Louth is a Market town within the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England.
The church was described by Queen Elizabeth I as "the fairest, goodliest, and most famous parish church in England. "[2],[3]
Contents |
History
Parts of the church date to the beginning of the 12th century. However, most parts are the work of 15th century masons. The strong vertical lines of the gothic church direct the eye upwards giving the impression of great space and height. See also Gothic art Gothic architecture is a style of Architecture which flourished during the high and late medieval period. The upper part of the spire, missing since being struck by lightning in 1446,[4] was replaced in 1872 to a height of 292ft (90m). A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building particularly a church Tower. [2]
In 1571, what was to become St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School was formed in a chapel in the churchyard. St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School (often referred to as 'St Mary Redcliffe' 'Redcliffe' or 'SMRT' is a Church of England Voluntary Aided school for 11-18 year-olds situated The church and school have remained closely linked in many aspects of their operations.
Thomas Chatterton was born in the house next to the church in 1752 and his writings were inspired by the church in which he acted as Sexton and used a room over the south porch as a study. Thomas Chatterton ( November 20 1752 – August 24 1770) was an English poet and forger See also Sacristan A sexton is a church officer charged with the maintenance of the church buildings and/or the surrounding Graveyard. [2]
During the Second World War a bomb exploded in a nearby street, throwing a rail from the tramway over the houses and into the churchyard of St. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including A tram, tramcar, trolley, trolley car, or streetcar is a railborne vehicle, of lighter weight and construction than a Train Mary Redcliffe, where it became embedded in the ground. The rail is left there as a monument. [5]
Architecture and decoration
The north porch has an inner component dating from 1200, with black Purbeck marble columns, and an outer hexagonal portion built in 1325 which is ogee-cusped with a Moorish appearance. [2]
Much of the medieval church decoration was lost during the Reformation and the English Civil War, however a wrought iron chancel screen built by William Edney in 1710 still stands under the tower. The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th century England by which the Church of England first broke away from the authority of the Pope The English Civil War (1642-1651 was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists. QtubIronPillarJPG|thumb|right| Iron pillar at Delhi India containing 98% wrought iron]] Wrought iron is commercially pure Iron.
The church is adorned with monuments to many individuals from the history of the city including: Sir William Penn (the father of William Penn the founder of Pennsylvania). Sir William Penn ( 23 April 1621 &ndash 16 September 1670) was an English Admiral, and the father of William Penn William Penn ( October 14, 1644 – July 30, 1718) was founder and "Absolute Proprietor" of the Province of Pennsylvania, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern His helm and half-armour are hung on the wall, together with the tattered banners of the Dutch ships that he captured in battle. A helmet is a form of Protective gear worn on the head to protect it from injuries a variation of the hat Armour (or armor) is protective covering most commonly manufactured from metals to prevent damage from being inflicted to an individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands [6]
Little of the stained glass remained. In the west window of St John's Chapel, for instance, the mediaeval glass barely survived the destruction (said to have been caused by Oliver Cromwell's men). Oliver Cromwell (25 April 1599 Old Style &ndash 3 September 1658 Old Style) was an English military and political leader best known Most of the higher portions went untouched, but others were severely damaged. In some cases the windows were impossible to repair, and clear glass was eventually introduced to replace the missing scenes.
In the times of Queen Anne, and partially funded by her, the interior of St. Anne (6 February 1665 – 1 August 1714 became Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702 succeeding William III of England and II of Mary Redcliffe was decorated in the flamboyant Baroque style. Baroque art redirects here Please disambiguate such links to Baroque painting, Baroque sculpture, etc [7]
The Victorian stained glass windows were created by some of the finest studios of that period. Culture The Victorian fascination with novelty resulted in a deep interest in the relationship between modernity and cultural continuities For the Blackford Oakes novel see Stained Glass (novel The term stained glass refers either to the material of coloured Glass or to the art
The tower contains four bells dating from 1763 and made by Thomas Bilbie of the Bilbie family. The Bilbie family were bell founders and Clockmakers based initially in Chew Stoke, Somerset and later at Cullompton, Devon [8]
Hogarth's tryptych
A great altarpiece tryptych by William Hogarth was commissioned in 1756 to fill the east end of the chancel. An altarpiece is a picture or Relief representing a religious subject and suspended in a frame behind the Altar of a church A triptych (pronounced "trip-tick" trip'tik (or US: 'tɹʷɪp William Hogarth (10 November 1697 &ndash 26 October 1764 was a major English painter, printmaker, pictorial satirist, social critic "Chancel" is an architectural term for the space around the Altar at the Liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building The Churchwardens paid him £525 for his paintings of the Ascension flanked by The Sealing of the Sepulchre and the Three Marys at the Tomb. A churchwarden is a lay official in a Parish church of the Anglican Communion, usually working as a part-time volunteer This was removed from the church by mid-Victorian liturgists and stored at a various sites, including a tobacco warehouse (as this provided suitable humidity), before being displayed at the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery. The Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery is a large Museum and Art gallery in Bristol, England. [2]
Organ
The first pipe organ in the church, built by Harris and Byfield in 1726, was of three manuals and twenty-six stops. Harrison & Harrison are a firm of Pipe organ builders in the UK, examples of whose work can also be found in many other countries The pipe organ is a Musical instrument that produces sound when pressurized air (wind is driven through a series of pipes, controlled by a keyboard In 1911 a four manual seventy-one stop organ was built by Harrison & Harrison. Harrison & Harrison are a firm of Pipe organ builders in the UK, examples of whose work can also be found in many other countries Towards the end of his life Arthur Harrison said that he regarded the organ at St. Mary Redcliffe as his "finest and most characteristic work". This view has been echoed since by other notable organists. Kevin Bowyer recorded Sorabji's First Organ Symphony on it in 1988, for which the organ was an 'ideal choice'; the notes to the recording describe the church as 'acoustically ideal, with a reverberation period of 3 1/2 seconds', and notes that the organ has 'a luxuriousness of tone' and 'a range of volume from practically inaudible to fiendishly loud. Kevin John Bowyer (born 9 January 1961 in Southend-on-Sea) is a English organist, known for his prolific recording and Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji ( August 14, 1892 &ndash October 15, 1988) was a British Parsi Composer, music journalist ' This organ was restored most recently in 1990, but remains essentially as Arthur Harrison designed it in 1911.
References
- ^ Church of St Mary Redcliffe. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-03-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 597 BC - Babylonians capture Jerusalem, replace Jehoiachin with Zedekiah as king
- ^ a b c d e Burrough, THB (1970). Bristol. London: Studio Vista. ISBN 0289798043.
- ^ Little, Bryan (1967). The City and County of Bristol. Wakefield: S. R. Publishers. ISBN 0854095128.
- ^ St Mary Redcliffe. About Bristol. Retrieved on 2007-05-13. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1497 - Pope Alexander VI excommunicates Girolamo Savonarola.
- ^ Memories of Bristol's Trams. Bristol history. com. Retrieved on 2007-07-28. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1540 - Thomas Cromwell is executed at the order of Henry VIII of England on charges of Treason.
- ^ Brace, Keith (1996). Portrait of Bristol. London: Robert Hale. ISBN 0709154356.
- ^ 18th century. St Mary Redcliffe. Retrieved on 2007-05-13. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1497 - Pope Alexander VI excommunicates Girolamo Savonarola.
- ^ Moore, James; Roy Rice & Ernest Hucker (1995). Bilbie and the Chew Valley clock makers. The authors. ISBN 0952670208.
See also
External links
- Official site
- Skyscrapernews.com details Large collection of photos of the church
- St Mary's Redcliffe Parish Church - dimensions and plans
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