St Mary le Port Church, Bristol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary le Port Church |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Bristol |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°27′17″N 2°35′30″W / 51.4547°N 2.5916°W |
| Completed | 15th century |
| Demolished | (partially) 24 November 1940 |
St Mary le Port is a church in Bristol, England, that was mostly destroyed. Today, you can find its ruins in Castle Park, right in the middle of Bristol. It stands on what is left of Mary le Port Street.
Contents
The Story of St Mary le Port Church
Early Beginnings
This church is very old! People believe it was first built way back in Saxon times. This idea comes from old foundations and pottery found during digs. Over many years, from the 11th to the 16th centuries, the church was rebuilt and made bigger.
A Popular Church
In the 1800s and early 1900s, St Mary le Port was a very important church. It was known for its strong Protestant teachings within the Church of England. Many people came to listen to its leaders.
World War II Bombing
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Sadly, the church was badly damaged during the Second World War. On November 24, 1940, it was hit by bombs during the Bristol Blitz. Most of the church was destroyed.
An artist named John Piper painted a famous picture of the bombed church. This painting was even used on a British stamp in 1968!
What Remains Today
Today, all that is left of St Mary le Port is its tall, old tower. This tower was built in the 15th century. It is now a special historic site, protected as a Grade II listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. For many years, modern buildings stood around the tower. However, by the 2020s, these buildings became empty and run-down. There are now plans to build new things around the historic tower.
After the Bombing
After the bombing, the church's community moved to another church nearby, St John on the Wall Church. They stayed there for many years until that church building also closed in 1984. The remaining members then moved to the Chapel of Foster's Almshouses.
Church Records
Even though the church was bombed, some of its old records still exist. These important documents are kept at Bristol Archives. They include copies of records about baptisms (christenings), marriages, and burials. There are also records about the church leaders, its councils, charities, and schools.
