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Rush Sunday
A 500 year old civic tradition
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An ancient civic tradition
Rush Sunday is one of the highlights of Bristol's civic calendar, upholding a tradition which goes back over 500 years.
William Canynges of Redcliffe Street - merchant, five-times Mayor of Bristol, its MP and a principal benefactor of St Mary Redcliffe - was ordained priest after the death of his wife in 1467 and first celebrated Mass in the church on Whitsunday the following year.
To commemorate this, William Spenser, also sometime Mayor of Bristol, made provision in 1493 for three sermons to be preached before the Mayor and commonalty on the days after Whitsun; a change to one sermon on Whitsunday was made at the time of the Reformation.
Those attending carried nosegays and the floor of the church was strewn with rushes, traditions that are maintained to this day in the service held annually ever since and attended by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the City in their traditional robes and regalia.
Watch our video to find out more about this special event or click here
to watch this year's service, which will be broadcast at 11am on Sunday 31 May.
An ancient civic tradition
Rush Sunday is one of the highlights of Bristol's civic calendar, upholding a tradition which goes back over 500 years.
William Canynges of Redcliffe Street - merchant, five-times Mayor of Bristol, its MP and a principal benefactor of St Mary Redcliffe - was ordained priest after the death of his wife in 1467 and first celebrated Mass in the church on Whitsunday the following year.
To commemorate this, William Spenser, also sometime Mayor of Bristol, made provision in 1493 for three sermons to be preached before the Mayor and commonalty on the days after Whitsun; a change to one sermon on Whitsunday was made at the time of the Reformation.
Those attending carried nosegays and the floor of the church was strewn with rushes, traditions that are maintained to this day in the service held annually ever since and attended by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the City in their traditional robes and regalia.
This year, due to Cornavirus, we will be broadcasting a digital Rush Sunday, which you can watch below
from 11am on Sunday 31 May.
Find out more about Rush Sunday by watching our video:
Rush Sunday 2020
There will
we be no public Rush Sunday this year due to Coronavirus, but we will be broadcasting to this page live from church at 11am on Sunday 31 May. You can watch the live broadcast below.
Rush Sunday 2020
There will we be no public Rush Sunday this year due to Coronavirus, but we will be broadcasting to this page live from church at 11am on Sunday 31 May. You can watch the live broadcast below.
Relating to Rush Sunday
By Rhys Williams
•
April 11, 2024
Take part in a piece of living history: join us for our 500 year-old Civic Service!
By matthew.buckmaster
•
May 29, 2023
Preached by the Revd Canon Dan Tyndall, Vicar
By Rhys Williams
•
May 23, 2021
This year's Rush took place on Sunday 23 May. Watch a video of the event here.
By Rhys Williams
•
May 15, 2020
William Canynges of Redcliffe Street - merchant, five-times Mayor of Bristol, its MP and a principal benefactor of St Mary Redcliffe.
By Rhys Williams
•
May 15, 2020
Rush Sunday 1910. A wonderful photograph showing the arrival of the Lord Mayor's carriage beneath the north entrance to the church.
Relating to Rush Sunday
By Rhys Williams
•
April 11, 2024
Take part in a piece of living history: join us for our 500 year-old Civic Service!
By matthew.buckmaster
•
May 29, 2023
Preached by the Revd Canon Dan Tyndall, Vicar
