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St James' Priory, Bristol facts for kids

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St James' Priory Church
St James's Priory, Bristol, tower.jpg
51°27′31″N 2°35′37″W / 51.458522°N 2.593669°W / 51.458522; -2.593669
Location Whitson Street, Horsefair, Bristol,  England
Country  United Kingdom
Denomination Catholic
Previous denomination Catholic, Anglican (until 1996)
History
Status Priory church
Founded c.1129
Founder(s) Robert Rufus
Dedication St James
Architecture
Functional status Active
Heritage designation Grade I listed
Style Romanesque, Gothic
Groundbreaking c.1129
Completed 1374, with alternations from the 15th, 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries
Specifications
Materials Stone
Bells 10
Administration
Diocese Clifton
St James' Priory
St James' Priory Church, Bristol, BRO Picbox-4-BCh-22, 1250x1250.jpg
Monastery information
Order Benedictine (until 1539); Little Brothers of Nazareth (1996–present)
Denomination Catholic
Established 1137
Disestablished 1540
Reestablished 1996
Mother house Tewkesbury Abbey
Dedicated to Saint James the Greater
Controlled churches The Priory Church of St James, Bristol
Architecture
Status Priory
Functional Status Active

The Priory Church of St James in Bristol is a very old and important building. It is located in the area called Horsefair, on Whitson Street. This church is a Grade I listed building, which means it's considered a very special historic place in England.

The church was started around 1129 as a Benedictine priory. A priory is like a monastery, a place where monks live and pray. It was founded by Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester, who was the son of King Henry I of England.

A big part of the original church, called the nave, is still standing today. It survived a time in history when King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries in England. This was called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The nave survived because the local people agreed to take care of it in 1374. A tower was added to the church around the same time.

In 1540, the priory buildings were taken by the King and mostly pulled down. Only the church's nave was left. Later, the land was sold to a merchant. Over the years, parts of the church were rebuilt or changed. For example, the south side was widened in 1698, and the north side was rebuilt in 1864.

There's an old story that says for every ten stones used to build Bristol Castle, one stone was set aside to build St James' Priory. These stones were brought all the way from Normandy in France!

Not long ago, the church was in poor condition and was on a list of buildings at risk. But after a lot of hard work and restoration, it was fixed up in 2011. Now, it's no longer considered at risk. Today, St James' Priory is an active Catholic Church within the Catholic Diocese of Clifton. Before 1996, it was a Church of England church.

History of St James' Priory

How the Priory Started

The Priory Church of St James was founded in 1129. It was built by Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester. He was an important person and the son of King Henry I. The priory was home to Benedictine monks.

Changes Over Time

The main part of the church, called the nave, was built in 1129. It is still standing today. In 1374, an agreement was made. This agreement meant the local people would take care of the nave. This helped it survive when King Henry VIII closed many monasteries in the 1500s.

In 1540, the priory buildings were pulled down. Only the church's nave remained. Over the centuries, parts of the church were changed and rebuilt. The south side was made wider in 1698. The north side was rebuilt in 1864.

Restoring the Church

The church was once in very bad shape. It was even on a list of historic buildings at risk. But a big project started in 2009 to fix it. This project received a lot of money to help save the church.

The restoration work lasted for 21 months. The church was officially reopened on July 25, 2011. During the work, archaeologists found an interesting old sundial. It was made of stone and had old numbers on it. This sundial might be one of the oldest scientific sundials found in Britain.

St James's Fair: A Lively Event

St James' Priory Bristol Ground Plan
A plan of the priory from 1882

The Fair's Beginning

When Earl Robert founded the priory in 1137, he also gave it permission to hold a yearly fair. This fair became very important for Bristol. From 1238, the fair was held for fifteen days each year.

The fair was first held on Whitsun Day. But because this date changed every year, it was moved to July 25th. This date is the feast day of St James. Later, the fair was held in the first two weeks of September.

What Happened at the Fair

The St James's Fair was the most important fair in Bristol. It was held in the churchyard and nearby streets. The money earned from the fair helped to decorate St James Church beautifully. For example, a fancy screen and altar piece were built in 1498. They were even bigger and better than those at the famous St Mary Redcliffe church.

The fair was so popular that it grew beyond the churchyard. Stalls and booths filled the surrounding streets. People could enjoy many kinds of entertainment. There was theatre, sports, and music. You could see wild animals, acrobats, and puppet shows like Punch and Judy. Magicians and musicians also performed. One year, a special pig named 'Toby' was a big attraction!

More fun activities took place on 'The Marsh,' which is now Queen Square, Bristol. Famous acting groups, like the Lord Chamberlain's Men, performed at the fair. This means that even Shakespeare might have performed in Bristol! Merchants would plan their year to have goods like wine, oil, and luxury items ready for the fair.

The End of the Fair

By the 1600s, the fair was so well-known that ships coming to Bristol for it were sometimes attacked by pirates. The last fair was held in 1837. People who were very religious or concerned about young people thought the fair was too wild. They didn't like the fun and games happening in a churchyard.

Even though the fair is gone, it left its mark on Bristol. A nearby road is still called Horsefair. Also, a roundabout called St James Barton roundabout (The Bearpit) keeps the name of the old farm where the fair was held.

St James Priory Project

After the monasteries were closed, the church's nave continued to be used. It was an Anglican church for many years. But in the 1980s, it was not used anymore and was put up for sale.

In 1996, a group called the Little Brothers of Nazareth reopened it as a Catholic church. They also started the St James Priory Project. This project helps people in need in the community.

Important People Buried Here

Some important historical figures are buried at St James' Priory in Bristol.

Archives

Old records for St James' Priory are kept at Bristol Archives. These records include details about baptisms, marriages, and burials. They also have information about the church leaders, church events, and the famous St James' Fair. Other records can be found at Cambridge University Library.

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