Historic churches in Bristol Gloucestershire keepersmeet the of history visitchurches.org.uk/daysout 3 shire of gems Among Gloucestershire’s honeyed stone villages and Bristol’s busy streets, you’ll find some of the loveliest churches in England. 2 Magnificent monuments and life-size effigies are among the glories of the city churches, and in the country, you can find craftsmen-created buildings of simple beauty in stunning landscapes. Great or small, all are special and a delight to discover and visit. All the churches in this leaflet have been saved by The Churches Conservation Trust. The Trust is a charity that cares for more than 340 churches in England. This is timeless one of 18 leaflets that highlight their history and treasures. treasures For more information on the other guides in this series, as well as interactive maps and downloadable information, experience peace and tranquillity at see visitchurches.org.uk St Michael and Martin’s, Eastleach Martin 2 St John the Baptist Bristol A church that rises out of the city’s North Gate St John’s was built into the city walls in the 14th century as a place for travellers to offer prayers before a journey. Outside, it is renowned for its stunning spire; inside, it has wonderful monuments, both in the tall, graceful church interior and in the atmospheric vaulted crypt. Look for the marble figure of Walter Frampton, the church’s founder, with a strange dog. Broad Street, Bristol BS1 2EZ Tower Lane, bottom of Broad Street at intersection with Nelson Street St Thomas the Martyr 1 Nearest railway station: Bristol Temple Meads (1 mile) Bristol Usually Mon-Sat, 11am-2pm . Please check our website An elegant Georgian survivor in a city-centre location before visiting • Elegant, spacious and light-filled interior • Dark wood furnishings and painted walls lend an air of refinement. • A ring of eight bells, cast locally over 400 years Located in Bristol’s city centre, this handsome late 3 18th-century church was designed in 1789 by local architect Eastleach Martin, and carver James Allen to replace a Medieval church deemed St Michael unsafe for use. Allen retained the 15th-century west tower & St Martin of the old church, intending it to be ‘raised and modernised’ Gloucestershire in a Classical fashion, but the plan was never carried out and A lovely riverside the church is an unusual – but pleasing – blend of both periods. church in an idyllic Cotswold setting Little now survives of the old parish buildings, once home to rich clothiers, glovers, glassmakers and wine importers This picture-postcard Medieval church stands in a gently whose trading activities supported the church. One of the few sloping churchyard by the river Leach, just a stone’s throw remaining inns of the parish is the Seven Stars Tavern, right from its sister church at Eastleach Turville on the opposite next to St Thomas’, where anti-slavery campaigner, Reverend bank. The two are linked by a stone clapper bridge known Thomas Clarkson, gathered information on the slave trade. as Keble’s bridge after the church’s 19th-century curate John His evidence helped bring about the abolition of slavery Keble, a much-loved poet and Oxford scholar. The building’s in Britain. treasures include beautiful carved windows – featuring tiny stone heads from the 13th century. St Thomas Street, Bristol BS1 6QR Off Victoria Street, central Bristol Eastleach Martin, Cirencester GL7 3NN Nearest railway station: Bristol Temple Meads 4m N of Lechlade off A361 or A417 (short walk) Nearest railway station: Shipton (9.7 miles) Open Mon-Thu, 10.30am-4pm Open daily 6 4 Ozleworth, Gloucester, St Nicholas St Nicholas of Myra Gloucestershire Gloucestershire Medieval church A strange and beautiful built for merchant church close to the traders in a busy city Cotswold Way Built beside Gloucester’s (now vanished) west gate, St Nicholas’ This lovely little Norman church sits in a tree-filled churchyard is a city landmark, known for its leaning, truncated white stone in a beautiful narrow valley. The wonderful irregular hexagonal spire. The damage was caused by Royalist troops during the tower, which rises from the centre of the building, is thought Siege of Gloucester in 1643 – and the spire is now topped to be the nave of an old chapel. Gaze up into the tower’s with an attractive coronet. Inside, the church has alabaster roof and see how uneven all six sides are! Also look for the figures in glorious Stuart costume reclining on chest tombs. exceptional 13th-century carving and design on the south doorway and the western tower arch. Westgate Street, Gloucester GL1 2PG Gloucester city centre Ozleworth, Wotton-under-Edge GL12 7QA Nearest railway station: Gloucester (0.5 miles) In Ozleworth Park, 2m E of Wotton under Edge Open Apr to Sep: Thu and Fri 10.30am-2.30pm, off A4135, at junction with B4058 Sat 11am-4pm; at other times keyholder nearby Nearest railway station: Cam & Dursley (7 miles) Open daily visitchurches.org.uk/daysout 7 5 Saintbury, Little St Nicholas Washbourne, Gloucestershire St Mary From the 11th-century Gloucestershire to the Arts & Crafts A time-capsule with us Spend a day movement church with glorious Cotswold views From the 11th-century to the Arts & Craft movement This Medieval church on the Cotswold Way has a tall and The Norman church of St Mary’s stands in a pretty orchard slender spire, surveying the beautiful valley below. with spectacular views over the Cotswolds and Bredon Hill. The building’s earliest known feature is a sundial considered Its interior is simple and light, with flagged floors, plastered to be 11th-century. Explore the Post-Medieval wallpaintings in walls, traces of Medieval wall painting and lovely Georgian the chancel and Arts and Crafts ceilings added in the furnishings. The churchyard has only one grave as the ground early 20th-century. is waterlogged – legend says it is that of a boy who drowned and now mischievously haunts the nearby Hobnails Inn. Broadway, Saintbury, Gloucestershire, WR12 7PX On Broadway, off the B4632 running between Little Washbourne, Tewkesbury GL20 8NQ Weston sub Edge and Willersey. 6m E of Tewkesbury off B4077 and 5m E of M5 Junction 9 Nearest railway station: Honeybourne (3.2 miles) Nearest railway station: Ashchurch (5 miles) Opening times tbc. Please contact the Bristol regional Open daily office on 0117 929 1766 before your visit Oldbury-on-the-Hill, St Arild 12 More churches to enjoy An atmospheric church dedicated to a little-known, Each CCT church has been saved because it is special. pre-Norman saint, who is thought to have lived near Thornbury. We can’t do justice to them all in one leaflet, so visit our website The simple interior is little changed since the 18th century. for more information on those only briefly described here. St Arild, Oldbury-on-the-Hill, Didmarton, Badminton GL9 1EA Bristol 1m N of Didmarton and 6m SW of Tetbury off A433 St Paul 8 Open daily A masterpiece of provincial ‘Gothick’ architecture in an 18th-century square, the ‘Wedding Cake Church’ Shipton Sollars, St Mary 13 of St Paul’s has been granted a new lease of life as A small 13th-century church in a pretty Cotswold hamlet, a circus-training school. with fragments of wall texts and pretty stained glass. St Mary’s Portland Square, Bristol BS2 8SJ survived a time as a cowshed in the 19th century. Off A4032 Newfoundland Way Shipton Sollars, Cheltenham GL54 4HU Open daily 9am-5pm; 200metres NE of A40/A436 junction on S side of village please phone 0117 924 7615 before arriving road to Shipton Open daily Gloucestershire Shorncote, All Saints 14 Brookthorpe, St Swithun 9 A tiny 800-year-old church with a pretty double A charming 13th-century country church with Victorian bell-cote, hidden away down a lane. Monuments and a stone additions, behind the manor of Brookthorpe Court. Royal Arms line the walls of its simple interior. A coded inscription in the porch indicates the date of King Charles I’s execution. Shorncote, Cirencester GL7 6DE 3m E of Kemble and 4m S of Cirencester off A429 Stroud Road, Brookthorpe, Gloucester GL4 0UJ Open daily May-Sep; at other times keyholder nearby 4m S of Gloucester and 5m N of Stroud on A4173 Keyholder nearby visitchurches.org.uk/joinus Tetbury, St Saviour 15 A magnificent Victorian church built in a fabulously ornate Charfield, St James 10 Medieval style for the poor of the parish, who could not afford A pretty, light-filled Medieval church of mellow to pay for seats in Tetbury’s other church, St Mary’s. Cotswold stone set high on a steep hillside, St James’ lost its wool-working congregation from the 18th century when New Church Street, Tetbury GL8 8DS the industry shifted to the valley. Close to Tetbury town centre Churchend Lane, Churchend, Charfield, Keyholder nearby Wotton-under-Edge GL12 8LJ 2m SE of M5 Junction 14 and 1m SW of Charfield Become a supporter off B4508/B4509 Keyholder nearby 2 Lassington, St Oswald Tower 11 The solitary surviving tower of old St Oswald’s church was probably built before the Norman Conquest. It is located in a pretty churchyard and surrounded by idyllic, gently undulating countryside. Lassington Lane, Highnam, Gloucester GL2 8DH 3m W of Gloucester off B4125 (follow sign to Lassington from Highnam village) Tower only, no visitor access to interior A968 A970 A968 A970 A971 SHETLAND ISLANDS A970 A966 A986 A967 A 965 A964 ORKNEY A960 ISLANDS A961 A836 A9 A99 A838 A836 A838 A897 A857 A882 A9 A A858 8 5 7 A894 A99 A858 A866 A836 A859 A837 A838 A9 A897 A859 A835 A837 A839 A839 A9 A837 A836 NA H-EILEANAN AN IAR A859 A832 A949 A836