St Paul's Church, Bristol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Paul's Church |
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St Paul's Church
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Bristol |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°27′40″N 2°35′05″W / 51.46114°N 2.58472°W |
| Construction started | 1789 |
| Completed | 1794 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Daniel Hague |
St Paul's Church is a famous building in the St Paul's area of Bristol, England. It was built a long time ago, in the 1790s. This church is so important that it's a Grade I listed building. This means it's protected because of its special history and design.
The church was closed in 1988 and became quite old and damaged. But don't worry! It was saved and given a new life. Today, it's a cool place used for performances and as a circus school called Circomedia.
Contents
The Church Building
A Unique Design
St Paul's Church is located in Portland Square. It was designed by an architect named Daniel Hague. Building started in 1789 and finished in 1794. People sometimes call it the "Wedding Cake Church." This is because its tower has unusual layers, like a wedding cake!
The tower was meant to hold ten bells. However, only four bells were bought. They were made by John Rudhall of Gloucester. Two bells were cast in 1792, and two more in 1795. One of these bells is still in the church. The other three bells were moved to different churches. Two smaller bells are now in St Michael's in Buckland Dinham and St. John's in Wagga Wagga, Australia. The second largest bell is now in St. James' in Sydney, Australia.
The gates and railings around the church are also very old and important. They are a Grade II* listed building.
From Church to Circus School
Why the Church Closed
Over time, fewer people lived in the area around the church. Many houses became offices. Because of this, fewer people attended church services. So, in 1988, the church closed its doors. It was in bad shape and stayed empty for many years. Water leaked in, damaging the plaster ceilings. The ironwork inside also swelled, causing the Bath Stone to crack.
A New Beginning
Luckily, about £2.3 million was given by the Heritage Lottery Fund to fix up the church. The Churches Conservation Trust now takes care of the building. It was officially closed as a church on November 1, 1988. The Trust took over on April 1, 2000.
In 2005, the church building was transformed. It became the new home for Circomedia, a special school for circus skills! Even though it's a circus school now, it's still considered a sacred place. Inside, you can still see the beautiful old Georgian plaster ceiling, stone columns, and amazing stained glass windows. But now, it also has equipment for aerial acts and trapeze, plus a smooth Maple wood floor for dancing.
On October 19, 2007, the church won a big award called the international RICS Community Benefit Award. Judges chose St Paul's because of the amazing way it was changed and saved by the Churches Conservation Trust.
Gallery
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Front of the church
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The unique tower
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The back of the church from St Paul's Park
See also
