St Mary le Port is a ruined
parish church
A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...
in the centre of
Bristol
Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...
, England, situated in
Castle Park on what remains of
Mary le Port Street.
History
St Mary le Port is said to have been founded in
Saxon
The Saxons ( la, Saxones, german: Sachsen, ang, Seaxan, osx, Sahson, nds, Sassen, nl, Saksen) were a group of Germanic
*
*
*
*
peoples whose name was given in the early Middle Ages to a large country (Old Saxony, la, Saxonia) near the Nor ...
times after Anglo-Saxon foundations were found during archaeological excavations
[M Q Smith, The Medieval Churches of Bristol, University of Bristol (Bristol branch of the Historical Association), 1970, p. 4.] and Saxon pottery was found nearby.
[Bristol in the Early Middle Ages, University of Bristol (Bristol branch of the Historical Association), 1971, p6.] The church was rebuilt and enlarged between the 11th and 16th centuries.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries the church was a very popular centre of
evangelical
Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide Interdenominationalism, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being "bor ...
,
Protestant
Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...
, and
Calvinist
Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Ca ...
teaching within Anglicanism.
The church was bombed in the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
on 24 November 1940 during the
Bristol Blitz
The Bristol Blitz was the heavy bombing of Bristol, England by the Nazi German ''Luftwaffe'' during the Second World War. Due to the presence of Bristol Harbour and the Bristol Aeroplane Company, the city was a target for bombing and was easi ...
.
John Piper painted an evocative picture of the bombed St Mary le Port. This image appears on the 1/6d British
commemorative stamp
A commemorative stamp is a postage stamp, often issued on a significant date such as an anniversary, to honor or commemorate a place, event, person, or object. The ''subject'' of the commemorative stamp is usually spelled out in print, unlike def ...
, part of a set of four paintings by British artists issued in 1968. All that remains of the church is the 15th-century tower, a Grade II
listed building
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
, and a
Scheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a nationally important archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change.
The various pieces of legislation that legally protect heritage assets from damage and d ...
which during the latter years of the 20th century was surrounded by the incongruous modernist buildings of
Norwich Union
Norwich Union was the name of insurance company Aviva's British arm before June 2009. It was originally established in 1797. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
On 29 April 2008, Aviva a ...
and the
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694 to act as the English Government's banker, and still one of the bankers for the Government of ...
, which by the 2020s were both empty and had become semi-derelict eyesores, with further redevelopment proposed.
After the bombing in 1940 the congregation and their rector, William Dodgson-Sykes, moved to
St John on the Wall Church, where the congregation remained, in gradually declining numbers, till this church building was closed for worship by the
Church Commissioners
The Church Commissioners is a body which administers the property assets of the Church of England. It was established in 1948 and combined the assets of Queen Anne's Bounty, a fund dating from 1704 for the relief of poor clergy, and of the Eccle ...
in 1984 (after a protracted struggle by the congregation). The remaining congregation then moved to the
Chapel of Foster's Almshouses, and joined the
Church of England (Continuing)
The Church of England (Continuing) is part of the Continuing Anglican Movement. Although the church was widely discussed in Anglican circles at the time of its founding, it has not achieved significant growth since that time.
In 2019 the church h ...
in 1995.
The C of E (Continuing) no longer lists a congregation in Bristol; some of the congregation joined with the new
Free Presbyterian Church (Ulster) congregation in
Horfield, Bristol
Horfield is a suburb of the city of Bristol, in southwest England. It lies on Bristol's northern edge, its border with Filton marking part of the boundary between Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Bishopston, Bristol, Bishopston lies directl ...
.
Archives
Although many of the parish records of St Mary le Port church were destroyed when the church was bombed, some archive material is held at
Bristol Archives
Bristol Archives (formerly Bristol Record Office) was established in 1924. It was the first borough record office in the United Kingdom, since at that time there was only one other local authority record office (Bedfordshire) in existence. It ...
(Refs. P. StMP)
online catalogue and P.St JB/MLP
online catalogue including copies of baptism, marriage and burial registers. The archive also includes records of the
incumbent
The incumbent is the current holder of an official, office or position, usually in relation to an election. In an election for president, the incumbent is the person holding or acting in the office of president before the election, whether seek ...
, churchwardens,
parochial church council, charities and schools, plus deeds.
Clergy of St Mary-le-Port church
The church's clergy have included:
* William Waite, rector, born 1764, died 1842, dates at St Mary le Port unknown
* William Tandey, curate 1784–1799 (lived 1750–1832)
*
James Marshall, rector 1842 – (born 23 February 1796, died 29 August 1855)
* Mr Thomas, rector, resigned 1857
* Samuel Abraham Walker, rector 1857–1879 (born Dublin, 1809, died 30 November 1879) (source,
The Gospel Magazine
The ''Gospel Magazine'' is a Calvinist, evangelical Christian magazine from the United Kingdom, and is one of the longest running of such periodicals, having been founded in 1766. Most of the editors have been Anglicans. It is currently published ...
, January, 1880)
* James Ormiston, rector 1880 (and as at the
1901 census) (previously at Old Hill, West Midlands; editor of
The Gospel Magazine
The ''Gospel Magazine'' is a Calvinist, evangelical Christian magazine from the United Kingdom, and is one of the longest running of such periodicals, having been founded in 1766. Most of the editors have been Anglicans. It is currently published ...
from 1895 to 1916)
* William Dodgson Sykes, rector (as at 1940) (editor of
The Gospel Magazine
The ''Gospel Magazine'' is a Calvinist, evangelical Christian magazine from the United Kingdom, and is one of the longest running of such periodicals, having been founded in 1766. Most of the editors have been Anglicans. It is currently published ...
from 1964 to 1975)
:: – son of
William Sykes (first President of the Sovereign Grace Union)
:: – Principal of the Bible Churchmen's Missionary and Theological College, later part of
Trinity College, Bristol
Trinity College, Bristol is an evangelical Anglican theological college located in Stoke Bishop, Bristol, England. It offers a range of full-time and part-time taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses which are validated by the University o ...
:: (
Bible Churchmen's Missionary Society
Crosslinks is an evangelical Anglican missionary society, drawing its support mainly from parishes in the Church of England and Church of Ireland. It was known as the Bible Churchmen's Missionary Society (BCMS) until 1992. The BCMS was created a ...
, now
Crosslinks
Crosslinks is an evangelical Anglican missionary society, drawing its support mainly from parishes in the Church of England and Church of Ireland. It was known as the Bible Churchmen's Missionary Society (BCMS) until 1992. The BCMS was created as ...
:: – Head of the
Irish Church Missions
The Irish Church Missions (ICM) is a conservative and semi-autonomous Anglican mission. It was founded in 1849 as The Irish Church Missions to the Roman Catholics chiefly by English Anglicans though with the backing and support of Church of Irelan ...
See also
*
Grade II listed buildings in Bristol
There are many Grade II listed buildings in Bristol, United Kingdom.
In England and Wales the authority for listing is granted by the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and is administered by English Heritage, an agency ...
*
Churches in Bristol
The English city of Bristol has a number of churches.
Bristol has lost, rebuilt or demolished all of its strongly characteristic late medieval parish churches - the naves had no clerestories, any added aisles and chapels were separately gabled, ...
References
External links
Details of clergy"About Bristol" page Tower of Church of St Mary-le-Port grade II listed from Images of EnglandBBC article on proposed 2005 development
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bristol, Saint Mary le Port
15th-century church buildings in England
Saint Mary le Port
Saint Mary le Port
Former Church of England church buildings
Grade II listed churches in Bristol
Saint Mary le Port
Ruins of churches destroyed during World War II
Saint Mary le Port
World War II sites in England
Grade II listed ruins