All Saints church | Walk in Bristol

"The Church of All Saints is a beautiful church in a great location in Clifton.
The architecture for the first sight is little bit strange was to me because of the roof of the massive tower, but after I read its history...
I wasn't inside the church, so I will need to visit it, because everyone praise its stained glass windows, the friendly atmosphere , and its events.. ;) "

History

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In 1862, a committee was set up to provide a large church for the Clifton area of Bristol.
It would be in the Anglo-Catholic tradition, and would be a free church with no rented pews.
The original church was built between 1868 and 1872 by George Edmund Street.
The 'Old' church, a product of catholic renewal and the Oxford Movement, was consecrated on 8 June 1868 by the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol.

This 'great building stood, with great dignity, and loved by people, the world over, who cherished the Catholicity of the Church of England'.
A narthex was added in 1909 by George Frederick Bodley, and a sacristy was added in 1928 by Frederick Charles Eden.
On 2 December 1940, an incendiary bomb set fire to the building, destroying the chancel and nave of the church.
Only the tower, narthex, and sacristy remained standing.
W. H. Randoll Blacking was the architect chosen to reconstruct the church, but, after much delay, he died before work could begin.
In the 1960s, it was once more decided that the rebuilding of the church should go ahead and Robert Potter was selected as the architect.

And just as the old church reflected the style and thinking of catholic renewal, so too the new building reflects the more modern ideas of liturgical thinking.
All Saints is an iconic building which is a fascinating mix of the old and the new.

The blend of materials used, concrete, wood and fibreglass – creates a space that combines elements of tradition, the ‘old’ baldachino and the ‘modern’ use of materials.
He reorientated the church so that the altar now faces East.
The altar itself is free standing and is set under a ciborium, a four-columned indoor roof.
Behind the font is a series of stained glass windows made from fibre glass and designed by John Piper.

These are an artwork of National Significance..
On 8 January 1959, the church was designated a grade II listed building.
The new nave and altar were consecrated on 1 July 1967.
In 1978, the parish of All Saints Clifton was joined with that of St John's Clifton to form the Parish of All Saints with St. John Clifton.
St John's Church was declared redundant in 1980.
In March 2013, the parochial church council voted to rescind Resolutions A and B, and to rescind the petition for alternative episcopal oversight.
With these actions, the parish signalled that it accepts the ordination of women.
It remains within the Anglo-Catholic tradition of the Church of England.

About the All Saints Church architecht

The Sanctuary

The separation between sanctuary and nave is gentle; the sanctuary is open to all. On the left (North) there is an Aumbry (Tabernacle, designed by FC Eden).

This is a recessed cupboard in which reserved sacrament is kept. This is used for home communions but is also an outward and visible sign of the actual presence of Our Lord in this place. On the right of the sanctuary is the credence (constructed of Seathwaite Fell Sandstone c.450 million years old), the shelf on which the vessels and elements of the Eucharist are kept prior to their being consecrated and the pulpit (or ambo), the platform from which the Gospel is preached, and directly in front of this is the lectern, upon which the Gospel resides during worship.

Baldachino and High Altar

The High Altar is made of Jurassic Portland Limestone from Worth Maltravers, some 200 million years old. If you come and look closely at this altar you can see the fossils it contains.

Above this is the canopy, a Baldachino (officially an ‘architectural ciborium’), designed by Randoll Blackling. Look at the design, the meaning of the images and the words (and perhaps identify the small error). This was created for the ‘New Church’ and was a feature that Potter needed to incorporate into his overall architectural design.

The Organ

The centrality of music in worship was part of the design requirement demanded of Potter. The organ, positioned adjacent to the choir, is designed on traditional 18th C principles and represents an extraordinary element in the musical tradition of All Saints. It has tracker action, with open foot voicing of the pipes, low wind pressure and slider chests and was made by J Walker and Sons. It is considered to be one of the finest examples of this type of organ within the UK. Organists from around the world visit to play and hear its sound.

The Lady Chapel

Bathed in blue light, the Lady Chapel positioned in the balcony, gives a tremendous view of the whole church. The chapel also provides a place for reflection and meditation.

Shrine of Our Lady: the Blessed Virgin Mary

Nestled between the organ and the sanctuary is the shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Every day, from the moment the church opens, visitors come into this Sacred Space. They often light a candle beside the Statue of the Virgin so that their prayers mingle with those of all the Saints, the Blessed Virgin, those who have gone before us and those who live in this world now.

Walk in Bristol

with Richie

All Saints Church
Clifton

5 Nearest Attraction

Richie's opinion :

History

About the All Saints Church architecht

The Sanctuary

The separation between sanctuary and nave is gentle; the sanctuary is open to all. On the left (North) there is an Aumbry (Tabernacle, designed by FC Eden).

Baldachino and High Altar

The High Altar is made of Jurassic Portland Limestone from Worth Maltravers, some 200 million years old. If you come and look closely at this altar you can see the fossils it contains.

The Lady Chapel

Bathed in blue light, the Lady Chapel positioned in the balcony, gives a tremendous view of the whole church. The chapel also provides a place for reflection and meditation.

CONTACT WITH US

All Saints Church Clifton

5 Nearest Attraction

Richie's opinion :

History

About the All Saints Church architecht

The Sanctuary The separation between sanctuary and nave is gentle; the sanctuary is open to all. On the left (North) there is an Aumbry (Tabernacle, designed by FC Eden).

Baldachino and High Altar The High Altar is made of Jurassic Portland Limestone from Worth Maltravers, some 200 million years old. If you come and look closely at this altar you can see the fossils it contains.

The Lady Chapel Bathed in blue light, the Lady Chapel positioned in the balcony, gives a tremendous view of the whole church. The chapel also provides a place for reflection and meditation.

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All Saints Church
Clifton

The Sanctuary

The separation between sanctuary and nave is gentle; the sanctuary is open to all. On the left (North) there is an Aumbry (Tabernacle, designed by FC Eden).

Baldachino and High Altar

The High Altar is made of Jurassic Portland Limestone from Worth Maltravers, some 200 million years old. If you come and look closely at this altar you can see the fossils it contains.

The Lady Chapel

Bathed in blue light, the Lady Chapel positioned in the balcony, gives a tremendous view of the whole church. The chapel also provides a place for reflection and meditation.