St Thomas the Martyr is a former
Church of England parish church on St Thomas Street in the
Redcliffe district of the
English port city of
Bristol.
It has a 14th-century tower, but the
nave was rebuilt 1791–93 by James Allen.
[ A substantial reordering was carried out by ]William Venn Gough
William Venn Gough (1842–1918) was an architect responsible for a number of prominent buildings in Bristol. His works include the Cabot Tower, Colston's Girls' School (now Montpelier High School), Trinity Road Library, St Aldhelm's church ...
between 1878 and 1880, and the top of the tower was remodeled with spirelet, pinnacle
A pinnacle is an architectural element originally forming the cap or crown of a buttress or small turret, but afterwards used on parapets at the corners of towers and in many other situations. The pinnacle looks like a small spire. It was mainly ...
s, and pierced parapet by Gough in 1896–97.[
]
Four paintings for the reredos
A reredos ( , , ) is a large altarpiece, a screen, or decoration placed behind the altar in a church. It often includes religious images.
The term ''reredos'' may also be used for similar structures, if elaborate, in secular architecture, for ex ...
were commissioned from the German artist Fritz von Kamptz in 1906, and are now housed in the south aisle.[
Although the church survived the Bristol Blitz of the Second World War, the congregation declined after the war and the church was finally declared redundant. It is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust,]vested
In law, vesting is the point in time when the rights and interests arising from legal ownership of a property is acquired by some person. Vesting creates an immediately secured right of present or future deployment. One has a vested right to an ...
in the Trust on 17 February 1988.Handel
George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos. Handel received his training i ...
.[
]
It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* Listed building#England and Wales, listed building.
Archives
Parish records for St Thomas the Martyr church, Bristol are held at Bristol Archives (Ref. P. St T)
online catalogue
including baptism, marriage and burial registers. The archive also includes records of the incumbent (ecclesiastical), incumbent, churchwardens, overseer of the poor, parochial church council, charities, societies, waywarden and vestry plus deeds, plans and photographs.
Current usage
The building is currently leased by the Churches Conservation Trust to a Romanian Orthodox Church community who use it for worship on Sundays and special days. Otherwise it is available for hire.[Romanian Orthodox Church at St Thomas the Martyr](_blank)
/ref>
See also
* Churches in Bristol
* Grade II* listed buildings in Bristol
* List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in South West England
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bristol, Saint Thomas the Martyr
Grade II* listed churches in Bristol
14th-century church buildings in England
Church of England church buildings in Bristol, Saint Thomas the Martyr
Churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust
Former Church of England church buildings, Saint Thomas the Martyr
Romanian Orthodox churches in the United Kingdom