19th Century (40 seconds)

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This idyllic watercolour shows the church before the restoration of the spire and east window
In the 19th century pollution had replaced war as the major threat to St Mary Redcliffe. A committee was formed in 1848 to raise money to restore the building to its former Gothic splendour. Taking the name of one of the merchants responsible for 15th century rebuilding, the Canynges Society spent the next thirty years uncovering and restoring the medieval building.

The congregation did not always accept change, particularly if there was any suggestion of a return to Roman Catholicism. On one occasion, the vicar of the time, Canon Madan, decided to turn east to face the Altar to say the Creed, the Christian affirmation of belief, but by the time he turned back to face the congregation, he discovered they had left and the church was empty!

 

 

In 1872 the Canynges Society completed its task by rebuilding the spire to a height of 292 feet, making it the second highest church spire in the country. According to William Worcestre, John Jay's brother-in-law, (who also described many of the other buildings of Bristol), the spire had collapsed in a storm in the 1440s leaving the truncated base that remained for over 400 years. It was William Worcestre's accurate descriptions that allowed the architect George Godwin to restore much of the building to its medieval splendour. When further restoration was necessary, the Canynges Society (Friends of St Mary Redcliffe) was revived in 1927 and has continued to support the upkeep and adornment

The builder of the spire used the same techniques in scaffolding as those in the 14th century

This unusual chest was funded by the Canynges Society in the 1930's to store the beautiful copes (highly decorated cloaks) embroidered by Mrs Fry