St Mark's Church, Bristol facts for kids
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St Mark's Church is a very old church in Bristol, England. It was built around 1230. People in the Middle Ages and Tudor times knew it as the Gaunt's Chapel. Since 1722, it has also been called the Lord Mayor's Chapel.
This church is special because it's one of only two churches in England owned by a city government. The other is St Lawrence Jewry in London. St Mark's stands across from Bristol Cathedral. It was originally the chapel for the nearby Gaunt's Hospital, which is now gone. The church has some beautiful old features and a collection of stained glass windows. It is a very important historic building.
Contents
How St Mark's Church Began
In 1220, a man named Maurice de Gaunt started a special place called a "hospital." In those days, a hospital was a charitable home for the sick and poor. It was called the "Hospital of St Mark of Billeswyke-by-Bristol."
When Maurice de Gaunt died in 1230, his nephew, Robert de Gournay, gave more money to the hospital. He made it independent from the nearby Abbey. The church, which was built around 1230, was for the people living in the hospital. It is the only part of the original hospital buildings still standing today.
Important People Buried Here
St Mark's Church is the final resting place for many important people. You can see several large stone tombs inside. Two of these tombs might belong to the church's founders, Maurice de Gaunt and Robert de Gournay.
Other notable people buried here include:
- Bishop Miles Salley (died 1516), who was a bishop.
- Members of the Berkeley family, who were related to the church's founders.
- Members of the Poyntz family.
- Reynborn Mathew (died 1470) and Thomas Mathew (died before 1470).
- Mary Denys (died 1593), who was a prioress (a leader in a religious community). She was known as a very good and religious woman.
- Sir Richard Berkeley (died 1604), a knight whose stone statue lies near the entrance.
- Thomas James (died 1619), who was the Mayor of Bristol.
- His nephew, also named Thomas James (died 1635), who was an Arctic explorer. A place called James Bay is named after him.
- Margaret Hopton (died 1635), whose husband built a large marble monument for her.
Changes Over Time
During the time of King Henry VIII, many monasteries and religious houses in England were closed down. This was called the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
In 1535, a letter was sent to Thomas Cromwell, a powerful advisor to the King. It mentioned closing down the "Gawntes" (Gaunt's Hospital).
After the hospital closed in 1539, a man named Edward Carne took over its lease. However, the city government of Bristol wanted the church. In 1540, the Bristol Corporation bought the church.
Queen Elizabeth's Hospital School
From 1590 to 1767, a school called Queen Elizabeth's Hospital used the old hospital building next to the church. The students used St Mark's Church as their chapel.
Huguenot Use
In the 1600s, many Huguenots (French Protestants) came to Bristol to escape persecution in France. From 1687 to 1722, the Bristol City Corporation allowed them to use the chapel for their worship.
Lord Mayor's Chapel
In 1722, St Mark's Church became the official church for the Mayor and the city government of Bristol. This is why it is known as the Lord Mayor's Chapel today.
Church Design and Style
The main part of the church, called the nave, was built around 1230. The south aisle was added later, around 1270–80. These sections show an early Gothic style. The rest of the church was built in a later Gothic style, known as Perpendicular.
The church's tower was finished in 1487. The chancel (the area around the altar) and the south aisle chapel were rebuilt around 1500 by Miles Salley, a bishop. The roof of the nave and another side chapel were added in the early 1500s. The front of the church was rebuilt around 1830. In 1889, a new entrance was created in the Gothic style.
Poyntz Chapel
A beautiful addition to the church is the "Chapel of Jesus," also known as the "Poyntz Chapel." It was built around 1523 by Sir Robert Poyntz (died 1520). This chapel was a chantry chapel, a place where prayers would be said for the soul of the person who built it.
The chapel has a special ceiling called a fan vault, which looks like a fan. The floor is covered with colorful Spanish tiles, likely from Seville, that are as old as the chapel itself.
Stained Glass Windows
In the early 1800s, Bristol Corporation bought many beautiful stained glass windows for the church. These came from different collections.
- From France, there is a 15th-century window showing two saints. More French glass in the nave shows 16th-century scenes from the Bible.
- From Germany, in the Poyntz Chapel, there are 16th-century windows showing saints.
- In the south aisle chapel, you can see 24 round glass pieces from Germany and Flanders, made in the 16th or 17th centuries.
- A window showing Thomas Becket was made in 1799 and also brought to the church.
Church Fittings
The church has some wonderful metalwork made by a Bristol blacksmith named William Edney. These include a sword rest from 1702 and a screen and gate from 1726. These pieces were moved here from another church after it was damaged during World War II.
The old medieval high altar screen was hidden behind wood panels in 1722. These panels were removed in 1820, revealing the original screen.
Current Use
St Mark's Church is open regularly for visitors to explore and for worship services. It has also been used for art exhibits, including one where caged birds sang along with a live pianist.
See also
- Churches in Bristol
- Grade I listed buildings in Bristol
