The locked-up remains of a historic Bristol landmark could finally be reopened to the public after years of work to make it safe. St Peter's Church at Castle Park is understood to be Bristol's oldest church, with foundations dating back to the early 12th century.
It was ruined in 1940 during wartime bombing in the Bristol Blitz, and now stands as just a shell of its former self with no roof protecting it from the elements. The door is sealed as it was deemed unsafe for people to venture inside, due to safety concerns including the risk of falling masonry.
However, yesterday (Thursday) Historic England announced the church has been removed from its Heritage at Risk Register after progress was made. It had been on the 'at risk' list since 2019 but a councillor has now confirmed there are hopes to open it again "in the not too distant future".
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The register is updated every year to assess the health of England’s most valued historic places and those most at risk of being lost as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development. Over the past year, 54 historic buildings and sites have been added to the Register in the South West because of their deteriorating condition and 80 sites have been saved and their futures secured.
Many have been rescued thanks to heritage partners and dedicated teams of volunteers, community groups, charities, owners and councils, working together with Historic England. Others saved in the region include Cleveland Pools in Bath, which reopened to swimmers after 40 years following a major conservation project, and another Bristol church called the Roman Catholic Church of St Bernadette.
The Grade II St Peter's Church in Castle Park is thought to be on the site of the first, pre-Conquest church in the city. The largely 15th-century building suffered bomb damage in the Second World War, and has since been left as an un-roofed shell and monument to Bristolians who lost their lives during the conflict.
Over the years fire and water damage have caused significant damage to the structure and in 2019 St Peter’s was placed on the Heritage at Risk Register. The serious deterioration of the medieval stonework throughout the building led to health and safety concerns and the church was closed to the public.
Historic England provided a grant of £50,600 to help fund repairs to the high-level stonework and walls including pinning, repointing, and structural bracing of arches. This work was completed in 2021 and the structure is now safe, but the poor condition and subsidence of the 1970s concrete and gravel flooring now needs to be addressed to allow full public access to the site once again.
Wessex Archaeology investigated the cause of the subsidence in July 2022 to inform the design of a new floor. This coincided with the annual Festival of Archaeology and provided an opportunity to hold an open day to allow people to handle artefacts and find out more about the building and its archaeology.
Reopening plans
Councillor Ellie King, cabinet member for Public Health and Communities, with responsibility for Parks at Bristol City Council, said: “St Peter’s Church and the streets that used to surround it were devastated by the Blitz during World War II and ever since the walls of the church have stood as a memorial to the lives lost. It is a building that cannot help but echo back to us stories from our shared past.
“It is very reassuring to see the site declared safe and removed from the Heritage at Risk Register. Our next steps now involve levelling the floor and countering significant subsidence that has taken place over the years. We are hopeful that we will be able to open up the memorial to the public in the not too distant future.
"Once open, St Peter’s Church will form an important link to the regenerated north-western corner of Castle Park - where long-derelict buildings are being demolished and another historic church St Mary-le-Port is also being restored."
Last year the co-founder of Friends of Castle Park, which has also been proactive in the efforts to safeguard the site's future, spoke to Bristol Live about his hopes for its future. Russ Leith envisioned that QR codes could be used as an interactive way of explaining its rich history to visitors, and said it would even make a spectacular venue for weddings.
Roman Catholic Church of St Bernadette
Another church has also been saved and removed from the register - the Roman Catholic Church of St Bernadette, on Wells Road. Also Grade II listed, it has been repaired thanks to a dedicated local community.
St Bernadette was designed in 1967 by James Leask of Kenneth Nealon, Tanner & Partners to accompany the Catholic school built on the centenary of the apparitions at Lourdes. Bold and innovative in design and materials, it features steep, curving paraboloid roofs and pointed peaks.
Its interior emphasises a close relationship between the altar and the congregation, and presents an open and inclusive appearance to the wider community. The building was placed on the Heritage at Risk Register in 2018 when some of the original materials started to show signs of deterioration.
Water began to get in through the roof coverings, affecting the ceiling and the roof structure. The community successfully completed the major repairs in March 2022, having raised over £1m to meet the costs with the support of the Diocese of Clifton.
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