Thomas Chatterton
Thomas Chatterton ~ The Boy Poet (1752 – 1770)
St Mary Redcliffe Church provided the primary inspiration for Thomas Chatterton, from its magnificent Gothic architecture to its memorials to Bristol’s dignitaries. He wrote about the church in his quasi-medieval poems and prose, and he also composed modern poems, satires and social sketches.
Chatterton was born in the writing-master’s house of Pile Street School just a stone’s throw from St Mary Redcliffe Church. His father, the writing-master, sadly died before Chatterton himself was born, but among his belongings were various medieval documents (considered worthless) he had rescued from a chest in the muniments room above the north porch of the church. It is thought that these ancient documents encouraged Chatterton to imitate medieval language and literature which he attributed to a fifteenth century monk, Thomas Rowley.
Chatterton’s fictional Thomas Rowley was portrayed as a friend of William Canynges (1399-1474) benefactor of Saint Mary Redcliffe and five times Mayor of Bristol. Chatterton presented his poems, some inscribed onto genuine ancient parchments, as if they were actual antiquities. Although close scrutiny of the poems by antiquarians of the time pronounced them to be modern, few believed that they could be the work of a mere fifteen-year-old boy.
So it was that, after his untimely early death, there was a fierce literary controversy over the authorship of the work. After years of dispute, the Rowley poems were accepted as the work of Thomas Chatterton, and it is upon this work, as well as his satirical verse and anti-slavery poems, that Chatterton’s literary legacy now rests.
Chatterton had a huge influence on the subsequent Romantic movement - inspiring writers such as Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Southey, Shelley, Keats, Rossetti, Browning and Wilde during the nineteenth century, as well as visual artists, such as the Pre-Raphaelites.
Listen to a recording of one of Chatterton's poems about St Mary Redcliffe below.
On the same (our Ladies Chyrche)
by Thomas Chatterton, read by Richard Wallace
On the same (Our Ladies Chyrche)
THOMAS CHATTERTON
Until this fetive pile astounde thine eye.
Whole rocks on rocks with yron joynd surveie,
And okes with okes entremed disponed lie.
This mightie pile, that keeps the wyndes at baie,
Fyre-levyn and the mokie storme defie,
That shootes aloofe into the reaulmes of daie,
Shall be the record of the Buylders fame for aie.
Thou seest this maystrie of a human hand,
The pride of Brystowe and the Westerne lande,
Yet is the Buylders vertues much moe greete,
Greeter than can bie Rowlies pen be scande.
Thou seest the saynctes and kynges in stonen state,
That seemd with breath and human soule dispande,
As payrde to us enseem these men of slate,
Such is greete Canynge's mynde when payrd to God elate.
Well maiest thou be astound, but view it well;
Go not from hence before thou see thy fill,
And learn the Builder's vertues and his name;
Of this tall spyre in every countye telle,
And with thy tale the lazing rych men shame;
Showe howe the glorious Canynge did excelle;
How hee good man a friend for kynges became,
And gloryous paved at once the way to heaven and fame.
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At the beginning of October 2025, Rebecca Horry joined the St Mary Redcliffe team as our new Commercial Manager. Here, she reflects on her first month in post. A big thank you for the warm welcome I have received at St Mary Redcliffe as the new Commercial Manager. It has been a genuinely inspiring start, getting to know the team, understanding the rhythm of church life and beginning to explore the many opportunities that sit within our commercial activities. My role is all about strengthening revenue streams and developing our commercial strategy to generate sustainable income for St Mary Redcliffe. In this short time, I’ve had the chance to listen, learn and to see the heart behind the work we do. It’s clear to me that our commercial activity isn’t simply about generating income, it’s about creating connections, making to most of our unique offer and ensuring our church can continue to flourish for generations to come. One of the great privileges of my first month has been experiencing the incredible music that fills this place, from intimate recitals to large-scale events. There is something truly special about watching the building come alive with sound, seeing audiences uplifted and feeling the space transformed. Connection to music is one of the many gifts we have to offer and celebrate, alongside the amazing heritage story we have to share with our community. My aim moving forward is to bring together a commercial offer that is cohesive, purpose-driven, and sustainably profitable. I want us to build something that not only supports by providing much needed funding but reflects our values and feels genuine to the incredible work already happening here. That means shaping a strategy that is smart and responsible, but also bold enough to embrace new ideas and possibilities. Most of all, I want to help create a commercial offer that feels joined-up, future-focused, and grounded in who we are at St Mary Redcliffe. Much of the work starts with ensuring our foundations are strong, reviewing and ensuring our current offer is working as hard as it possible can for us. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share their wisdom, offer encouragement, or simply check in with a friendly word. Your generosity has made this first month fly by and I’m excited for what lies ahead. - Rebecca Horry, Commercial Manager 19 November 2025
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