Location Bristol, Bristol Denomination Roman Catholic Years built 1970-1973 Capacity 1,000 Architect Percy Thomas | Country England Consecrated 1973 Opened 1973 Phone +44 117 973 8411 | |
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Website www.cliftoncathedral.org.uk Address Clifton Park, Avon, Bristol BS8 3BX, UK Similar Arundel Cathedral, Downside Abbey, Northampton Cathedral, Wrexham Cathedral, Cathedral of St Michael a | ||
The Cathedral Church of SS. Peter and Paul is the Roman Catholic cathedral in the English city of Bristol. Located in the Clifton area of the city, it is the seat of the Diocese of Clifton and is known as Clifton Cathedral. It has been a Grade II* Listed Building since 2000.
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Pro-Cathedral of the Holy Apostles
Clifton cathedral was built to replace the previous diocesan seat of Pro-Cathedral of the Holy Apostles in Bristol (1850-1973). The pro-cathedral had a history of problematic construction work. It was built as a church on a challenging hillside site, making work there difficult. Building started in 1834, stopped a year later, started again in 1843, stopped shortly after and the building lay abandoned until 1848 when a roof was placed on the half-completed building so that it could be used as a church.
Two years later, in 1850, Clifton was made an episcopal see and the church became the Pro-Cathedral, intended to act in this capacity until a more fitting cathedral church could be constructed.
Move to Clifton
In 1965, architects were commissioned to undertake the design of a new cathedral on a different site in Clifton. The design was primarily by R.J. Weeks, working with F.S. Jennett and A. Poremba of the Percy Thomas Partnership.
Construction began in March 1970 and completed in May 1973 by John Laing & Son Ltd, also the main contractor at Coventry Cathedral. That same year, on 29 June, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, the new cathedral was consecrated and opened and the pro-Cathedral was closed.
In 2011, it hosted the filming of 'Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol' an S4C television programme, that translates as 'Start Singing Start Praising'. The Cathedral hosted musicians, singers, cameramen and crew filming for the faith and music programme.
Construction
The interior design has been seen as unusual. Its internal shape is due to the architect's innovative response to the requirements set down by the Second Vatican Council. It was decreed in the Council that the congregation should all have a good view of the altar.; accordingly, the sanctuary is Hexagonal to allow the 1,000 capacity congregation a close and clear view of the altar, and there are no windows within the congregation's line of sight of the altar. Daytime lighting is provided by natural roof lights, so that the light from outside comes from the ring beam walls. This ensures that the sanctuary area remains the focus of the cathedral. The baptistery is situated close to the entrance, whilst the seating is around the lectern and altar space, reflecting a person's sacramental journey within the Catholic Church.
The mathematical form of a triangle is important in the design of the building. The architect used this to determine the spacings of the furnishings within the cathedral. The votive candelabrum hanging in the Lady Chapel was designed by the architect and is constructed of twenty such triangles and was made by Brother Patrick of Prinknash Abbey.
Facts
Archives
The archives of Clifton Cathedral, Bristol are held at Bristol Archives (Ref. 38031) (online catalogue), including registers of baptisms, marriages, confirmations, burials and members. The archive also includes notices of banns and minutes of the deanery.