The Canynges Society

The Canynges Society

The Friends of St Mary Redcliffe

Registered Charity No. 242231



Who are we? 

The Canynges Society is a registered charity dedicated to raising funds to support the maintenance of the building fabric of the church of St Mary Redcliffe, described by Queen Elizabeth I as “the fairest, goodliest and most famous parish church in England”. The Society was originally formed in 1848 in memory of William Canynges, a 15th Century Bristol merchant whose generosity endowed a major restoration of the church following a lightning strike in 1446. His memorial stands in the South Transept of the church. The Society is run by a small committee of volunteers and church officers, led by a President who is nominated on an annual basis. 

What do we do? 

The Society raises funds for the restoration and upkeep of the church building and for the improvement and adornment of the fabric of both the church and churchyard. We rely entirely on the generosity of the public and the business community for funds to do this. The society’s principal fundraising initiative is an annual Presidential appeal. 

How to contact us

Email: info@canynges.co.uk 

By post: The Canynges Society, c/o the Parish Office, 12 Colston Parade, Bristol BS1 6RA.

Find out more
Visit our website canynges.co.uk for further information about our activities and how you can get involved.

The Canynges Society Gazette

Read digital copies of our annual magazine below.