Pro-Cathedral of the Holy Apostles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pro-Cathedral of the Holy Apostles |
|
|---|---|
Pro Cathedral of the Holy Apostles, front
|
|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
| Year consecrated | 1850 |
| Location | |
| Location | Bristol, England |
 Location in Bristol
|
|
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Henry Goodridge; Charles Francis Hansom |
| Architectural type | Ecclesiastical |
| Architectural style | Palladian |
| Completed | 1850 |
The Pro-Cathedral of the Holy Apostles was an important Roman Catholic church in Bristol, England. It served as the main church for Catholics in the area from 1850 to 1973. In 1973, a new main church called Clifton Cathedral took its place. Today, the Pro-Cathedral building is a special historic site, protected because of its importance.
Contents
Building the Pro-Cathedral
For a long time, Roman Catholics in England faced challenges with their faith. After some laws changed, they could build proper churches. In Bristol, Catholics secretly bought land on Honeypen Hill, which is now called Park Place in Clifton.
The Original Design
Work on the church began in 1834. The design was by Henry Goodridge, an architect from Bath. He planned a grand building in the Palladian style, which was popular at the time. It would have a large main hall (called a nave) and tall Corinthian columns. The plan also included a round tower with columns to let light into the church.
Challenges with Construction
Building the church was very difficult because the land was on a hillside. The heavy structure kept causing the foundations to sink. This was a big problem, similar to what Isambard Kingdom Brunel faced when building the Clifton Suspension Bridge nearby.
Another attempt to fix the foundations was made in 1843. However, the priest in charge, Father Edgeworth, ran into money problems and had to leave. The building was left unfinished and empty until 1848.
Finishing the Church's Roof
In 1846, William Bernard Ullathorne became the new leader for Catholics in the Western part of England. He wanted to finish the church in Bristol. The building was just a ruin, with thin walls and no roof. Experts thought it would be impossible to put a roof on it because the space was too wide.
Bishop Ullathorne asked Charles Francis Hansom, a Catholic architect who lived nearby, for help. The Bishop told Hansom to follow his ideas. They decided to raise the walls a little higher. Then, instead of heavy stone columns, they used wooden ones. These wooden columns were placed on strong wooden beams that ran the length of the church. This clever plan allowed them to build a lighter roof.
Bishop Ullathorne said this new way of building made the ruin into the "present cathedral of Clifton" at a low cost. The church opened on September 21, 1848. In 1850, it officially became the Pro-Cathedral, meaning it was the main church until a bigger, more suitable cathedral could be built.
Inside the Pro-Cathedral, there were twelve large statues of the Apostles. These statues stood on top of pedestals that covered the original stone columns. There were also statues of the Virgin Mary and other saints like St John the Baptist and St Anthony of Padua. Near the back door, there was a statue of Saint Peter. People often touched his foot as they entered or left, making it smooth over time.
In the 1870s, Bishop William Clifford started to change the front of the church. Charles Hansom, the architect, redesigned the entrance and outside walls in a North Italian Romanesque style. A tall tower with a short spire was planned, but it was never fully finished. Inside, round-topped windows were added in the 1870s and 1903 to bring in more light.
Later Years and a New Cathedral
During World War II, part of the church's basement was made into an air raid shelter with strong walls. The roof had some minor damage from bombs, but the main structure was safe during the Bristol Blitz.
Why a New Cathedral Was Needed
From the 1930s to the 1950s, people had raised a lot of money to fix and decorate the Pro-Cathedral. However, in 1964, engineers reported that the ground under the church was not stable. This was a big problem for the Bishop of Clifton, Dr Joseph Rudderham, and the local priest. They had to decide whether to repair the old building or build a new one somewhere else.
In 1967, cracks appeared in the church walls because a multi-storey car park was being built below it. There were serious worries that the church's foundations might collapse. Even though expensive repairs were made, the decision was made to build a new church.
A new Cathedral was started in March 1970 and opened on June 29, 1973. The Pro-Cathedral then closed its doors.
Not much was moved from the Pro-Cathedral to the new Clifton Cathedral. Most items were left behind because they didn't fit the new church's style. Only two bronze Bells and a small, old carving of Jesus on a cross were moved. Sadly, the carving was later broken and had to be repaired.
What Happened to the Old Pro-Cathedral?
The church building was sold to a charity that ran a Steiner school. The money from the sale helped build a new primary school for the church. The Steiner school used the building until 2002.
After that, the building was used as a theatre and art space for a few years. However, it then fell into disrepair.
The Pro-Cathedral's New Life
In 2011, a company bought the site and turned the Pro-Cathedral building and a nearby school building into flats for students. Today, the site provides homes for many students in Bristol.
See also
In Spanish: Procatedral de los Santos Apóstoles para niños
