Church of All Saints, Clifton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of All Saints, Clifton
All Saints with St John, Clifton
The old red-brick tower with later concrete extensions
Church of All Saints, Clifton Location in Bristol
51°27′44″N 2°36′58″W / 51.4623°N 2.6161°W / 51.4623; -2.6161
Location	Pembroke Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2HY
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Anglo-Catholic
History
Status	Active
Dedication	All Saints
Consecrated	8 June 1868 (original) 1 July 1967 (rebuild)
Architecture
Functional status	Parish church
Heritage designation	Grade II listed
Designated	8 January 1959
Administration
Parish	All Saints with St. John Clifton
Deanery	Bristol West
Archdeaconry	Archdeaconry of Bristol
Diocese	Diocese of Bristol

The Church of All Saints is a special Church of England church located in Clifton, Bristol. It is a parish church, which means it serves the local community. The church is also a grade II listed building, showing it is an important historical place. It belongs to the Parish of All Saints with St. John Clifton, within the Diocese of Bristol.

History of the Church

In 1862, a group of people decided to build a large church in the Clifton area of Bristol. They wanted it to follow the Anglo-Catholic tradition within the Church of England. This church would be "free," meaning people would not have to pay to sit in certain pews.

Building the Original Church

The first church was built between 1868 and 1872 by an architect named George Edmund Street. The main part of the church, called the chancel, was officially opened on 8 June 1868. Later, in 1909, a special entrance area called a narthex was added by George Frederick Bodley. A room for priests, called a sacristy, was added in 1928 by Frederick Charles Eden. The narthex also has a small chapel, the Chapel of Saint Richard of Chichester. This chapel was built to remember Richard Randall, who was the first vicar of All Saints.

Rebuilding After the War

On 2 December 1940, during World War II, a bomb hit the church. It caused a fire that destroyed the chancel and the main part of the church, called the nave. Only the tower, narthex, and sacristy were left standing. An architect named W. H. Randoll Blacking was chosen to rebuild the church. However, he passed away before the work could begin.

In the 1960s, it was decided again to rebuild the church. Robert Potter, who was Blacking's partner, became the new architect. He changed the church's direction so the altar now faces East. The altar stands freely under a special four-columned roof called a ciborium. Behind the font, there are beautiful stained glass windows made from fibre glass. These were designed by John Piper. The new nave and altar were officially opened on 1 July 1967. In the same year, a stained glass window designed by Christopher Webb was put in the east window of the narthex. This was Webb's last window before he died.

On 8 January 1959, the church was officially recognized as a grade II listed building. This means it is an important historic place.

Present Day Church Life

In 1978, the church of All Saints Clifton joined with St John's Clifton. They formed one parish called All Saints with St. John Clifton. St John's Church was later closed in 1980.

In March 2013, the church council decided to accept the ordination of women as priests. This means women can serve as priests in the church. The church still follows the Anglo-Catholic tradition within the Church of England.

Notable People Connected to the Church

Many interesting people have been part of the Church of All Saints.

• Cedric Bucknall, who was the organist.

Clergy (Priests and Deacons)

• Henry Bromby, a former vicar, who was previously the Dean of Hobart.
• Fabian Jackson, a former vicar, who later became the Bishop of Trinidad.
• Diarmaid MacCulloch, who was a non-stipendiary deacon here from 1987 to 1988. He later became a professor at the University of Oxford.
• Richard Randall, the first vicar from 1868 to 1892. He later became the Dean of Chichester.

Images for kids

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  Church tower with spire

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  Stained glass window by John Piper

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  Altar with ciborium

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  High Altar and Baldachino

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  Nave with large windows

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  The Chancel with a tabernacle set into the wall

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  Organ

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  Stained glass window by Christopher Webb

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  Stained glass window in the narthex

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  Crucifix