News / Historic England
Bombed church to reopen for the first time in more than 30 years
Bristol’s Temple Church is set to reopen to the public following a £1m conservation project.
The historic building will play host to an installation as part of this month’s Bristol Light Festival and then be open daily to visitors from April.
It is the culmination of two years of work by experts from English Heritage to the fragile structure, where a church has stood since the 12th century.
Temple Church was bombed during the Second World War and gutted by the resulting fire
The Knights Templar first built an unusual round church here in Redcliffe, with their church later replaced with the building still standing today with its famous leaning tower.
Repairs and restoration over the last two years have included stabilising the masonry and resecuring thousands of pieces of stone.
Further work included laying a new asphalt roof to the vestry, repairs to stained glass and several monuments, and the introduction of new ironwork to the windows to improve the building’s security.
The original church here was built by the Knights Templar, the medieval military order founded to protect pilgrims to the Holy Land
English Heritage estates director Rob Woodside said that Temple Church “is a striking local landmark and an important example of a medieval church in the heart of the city”.
“Our extensive conservation works have made it safe to welcome visitors back inside the building and tell this part of Bristol’s story.
“We will be opening the church as a free to enter site everyday for everyone to enjoy, and very much hope it will become part of the city’s community once again.
“Taking part in Bristol Light Festival is a brilliant start to this, we look forward to the stunning Continuum installation casting a new light on the historic space.”
Visitors to Continuum by artist llumaphonium will be able to walk between 25 mirrored monoliths, exploring a maze of reflection and light.
The leaning tower and walls of this large late medieval church survived bombing during the Second World War
All photos: Martin Booth
Read next:
- Countdown to Bristol Light Festival 2023 begins
- Restoration work begins on bombed-out Redcliffe church
- Bristol’s medieval parish boundary markers hidden in plain sight
- 11 historic photos of Victoria Street and environs
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