St James' Presbyterian Church of England, Bristol facts for kids
St James' Presbyterian Church was an important church in Bristol, England. It was also known as the Welsh Congregational Church. The church was located in an area called The Haymarket in St James.
Contents
History of the Church
Building and Destruction
The original St James' Presbyterian Church was built in 1859. It was a beautiful building from the Victorian era. Sadly, the church was destroyed during World War II. This happened during a time known as The Blitz. The Blitz was when German planes bombed many cities in Britain.
The church was bombed on the evening of November 24, 1940. After the war, a new St James's Presbyterian Church was built. This new church opened around 1953 in Lockleaze, on Romney Avenue.
A Special Meeting
In 1897, the church hosted a special meeting called a synod. This meeting was for the Presbyterian Church of England. They met to remember a very important event. It was 50 years since Reverend William C. Burns became the church's first missionary to China. He had arrived there in 1847 to share his faith.
What Remains Today
The old St James' Church was partly restored in 1957. It became a small chapel. Today, you can still see parts of the old church building. Its remains are just south of the main Bristol coach station.
The church's tall tower is still standing. However, the main part of the church, called the nave, has been changed. It is now used as offices.
Later Changes
In 1957, the old church tower and its lower doors were used to create a courtyard. This courtyard was part of a new, smaller Welsh Congregational chapel. This new chapel was designed by Eustace Button. The Welsh church group moved here after their previous chapel was also destroyed in the bombing.
This small chapel had special tip-up seats. It also had a wide, open ceiling. The Welsh congregation used this chapel until 1988. By then, the hall next to it was in very bad condition. The 1957 chapel and the old Victorian hall were then taken down. The Victorian tower and doors were kept and included in the new office buildings.
