On the south side of the church lies a green space that, for centuries, served as a burial ground for the parish. Most of the tombstones have been cleared since its closure in the 19th century yet some of the memorials remain, such as the grave of the Chatterton family and that of the church cat. Next to the railings of Colston Parade, a tramline lies embedded in the churchyard after a bombing raid during World War II, as a reminder of how near the church came to being destroyed. Other historic treasures are hidden or have been totally lost, such as the Preaching Cross, where once the Council and Citizens of the city would gather to hear the great preachers of the day, and the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, which were taken down during the 18th Century. Samuel Plimsoll, born in Colston Parade, was responsible for the conceiving of the Plimsoll Line that saved thousands of sailor's lives by stopping ships from being overloaded. His house was rebuilt when a railway tunnel was drive through the Churchyard and the Parade.
This
tramline remains embedded in the churchyard where it landed during an
air raid in World War II
Tom, the church cat, is reputed to have attended more church services than some of the clergy!
St Mary Redcliffe Church fulfils the same function today as it did when it was first founded, standing as a meeting place for the worship of God and a witness to the active presence of the love of God. A large number of people collaborate to ensure that the doors of the Church are open to both visitor and pilgrim. The Church is maintained, not only by the clergy and the salaried staff, but by everyone who enters this building to give of their talents, their time and their prayers; it is the people who meet here to give thanks to God in times of joy and comfort in times of sorrow who constitute the Church. St Mary Redcliffe is not a museum but a living church whose walls provide shelter to all who enter.
The Church's concern is not only for religious matters as all things stem from God. The Chaotic pendulum, part of St Mary Redcliffe's Journey into Science Project, challenges us to think about our universe.