St George's Church, Brandon Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St George's Bristol |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Town or city | Bristol |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°27′15″N 2°36′14″W / 51.4543°N 2.6038°W |
| Construction started | 1821 |
| Completed | 1823 |
St George's Bristol is a famous music venue. It is located in Bristol, England. This building used to be a church. It sits on the lower part of Brandon Hill. This beautiful place was built in the 1820s. It was designed by a famous architect named Sir Robert Smirke. Today, it is known as a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important historic place. Since 1999, it has been a popular spot for concerts.
A Church with History
St George's was first built as a church. This happened between 1821 and 1823. It is in the Clifton area of Bristol. The architect, Sir Robert Smirke, designed it. He used a style called Greek Revival. This style looks like ancient Greek temples.
St George's was special because it was a "Waterloo church". This means it got money from the government. The money came from a special fund. This fund was set up after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. It helped build new churches. St George's was the only one in Bristol to get this help.
The building is a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important historical site. It is protected because of its special architecture and history.
In 1999, the church was greatly changed. It was made ready to be a full-time concert hall. It opened again in October of that year. It was then known as St George's Bristol.
A Place for Music
In 1976, a group called St George's Music Trust was formed. They worked to make the church a major concert place. It was first known as St George's, Brandon Hill.
The main part of the building can hold 562 people. The area below the church, called the crypt, was also changed. It became a bar and recording studios. The BBC often uses these studios.
The changes in 1999 were big. The old church pews were replaced with comfy padded chairs. The pews in the balcony were also made more comfortable. A place to buy tickets, called a box office, was added. The old font, used for baptisms, was given to another church. That church was St Mary on the Quay.
St George's Bristol is famous for many types of music. These include classical, jazz, folk, and world music. They also host opera shows. More than 200 events happen there every year. Many famous artists from around the world perform there.
Some famous musicians who have played there include Angela Hewitt and Nicola Benedetti. Others are Mark Padmore and Viktoria Mullova. Stephen Hough, Paul Lewis, and Christian Blackshaw have also performed. Singers like Janis Ian and Marc Almond have visited. Local music groups also perform often. These include the Bristol Ensemble.
See also
- Churches in Bristol
- Grade II* listed buildings in Bristol
