William Canynges II
View more
Merchant benefactor
The tomb and effigy of William Canynges the Younger (1399 – 1474) lie in the south transept of the church. The elaborate coloured tomb demonstrates a successful, wealthy man, whilst the plain alabaster effigy is in priestly robes.
One of Bristol’s most successful medieval merchants, by 1461 Canynges had a fleet of nine ships crewed by 800 sailors. In an extraordinary career he was an MP, five times Mayor of Bristol and, after the death of his wife, took holy orders as a priest. Canynges said his first Mass in St Mary Redcliffe on Whitsunday 17 May 1468.
The scale and brilliance of the present church are said to be largely due to this generous benefactor. To this day, one of the main charities that supports the care and embellishment of the church bears his name: the Canynges Society.
The church has many merchant marks (medieval corporate logos) reminding us of the generosity of Canynges and others whose gifts enabled this wonderful building to be built to the glory of God.
Read a detailed biography of Canynges below
More blog posts
Preached by Rev Teddy Kalongo, Superintendent of Bristol's Methodist Churches
Preached by the Revd Simon Goodman
Preached by the Canon Dr Stephen Spencer
Preached by the Canon Dr Stephen Spencer
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
Preached by the Canon Guy Wilkinson
