INTRODUCTION TO A TOUR OF ST MARY REDCLIFFE (39 seconds)

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The grandeur of the Parish Church of St Mary Redcliffe has been admired through the ages. On a visit to Bristol in 1574 Queen Elizabeth is reputed to have declared it to be the "fairest, goodliest and most famous parish church in England." The scale and beauty of the building gives the impression that it was intended to be a cathedral yet its purpose, like all Parish churches, has always been to serve as a gathering place for the Christian Community to worship God. The local Christian Community built this wondrous feat of architecture and each generation has adapted the building to create what we see today and to express their interpretation of the good news of Jesus Christ and reflect the glory of God.
This wood carving in the St John's Chapel may date from the opening of the Parish School in 1571 The vaulting in the north Transept

A visitor today cannot fail to be impressed by the splendour of the building, some parts of which date back to the beginning of the 12th Century. However, it is the work of the fifteenth century masons that fills the visitors with awe. The building's strong vertical lines direct the eye upwards giving the impression of great space and height, with light and colour filtering through Victorian stained glass windows created by some of the finest studios of that period. The ceiling is a vast stone vault, made up of intricate patterns of stone ribs and bosses, beautifully carved by mediaeval masons , do not merely decorate but they were also created to act as vital keystones being shaped to lock together the incredibly heavy masonry that forms the vaulting.

There are over a housand bosses some of which may exceed a ton in weight. Originally they were gilded in the 18th century