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‘Several potential future uses’ identified for church containing tomb of Edward Colston
A church at the historic heart of Bristol could be brought back to life after lying unused for more than a decade.
All Saints on the corner of Corn Street and All Saints Lane contains the lavish tomb of Edward Colston, and a memorial to him by Flemish sculptor John Michael Rysbrack.
This is the burial place of the infamous slave trader, who helped pay for the church’s new tower constructed in 1716.
All Saints, formerly known as All Hallows, was founded in Norman times and was the church of the Guild of Kalendars who kept Bristol’s records in order.
The church closed to the public in 1984 was used as an education and resource centre for the Diocese of Bristol until 2015.
A consultation commissioned by the Diocese in 2024 and carried out by external consultants has now identified “several potential future uses” for the building.
But these are being kept under wraps for now, and will be “explored and developed further” in the second phase of the consultation.
pic – All Saints has been closed to the public since 1984 but was used as offices until 2015 – photo: Martin Booth
Acting bishop of Bristol, Neil Warwick, said: “The completion of the first stage of the consultation marks an important step in listening, learning and discerning the most appropriate way forward for the building.
“Former bishop of Bristol, the rt revd Viv Faull, began this vital work, and the Diocese and I remain dedicated to it.”
A Diocese spokesperson said that the consultation “revealed differing perspectives on the building’s potential future use” with early-stage proposals due to be explored in the second stage of the process.
Separate from the consultation, works to repair the former church’s roof are due to begin in early spring and are due to take around six months.
All Saints originally had a square tower with pinnacles. Its current tower was finished in 1716 and the distinctive cupola added in 1807 – photo: Martin Booth
Find out more about All Saints and the other remaining and demolished churches within Bristol’s former city walls on a walking tour of the Old City with Martin Booth. For more information and to book, visit www.yuup.co/experiences/explore-bristol-s-quirkiest-corners
Main photo: Martin Booth
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