A medieval chapel in the centre of Bristol that Henry VIII sold off at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries has been taken back into the care of the city’s cathedral and is to reopen to the public.
Including features such as a fan-vaulted ceiling and an ornate Spanish tiled floor, Bristol Cathedral describes the Lord Mayor’s chapel as a “hidden gem”.
“It’s an incredible medieval building,” said Frances Rosewell, the visitor experience director at the cathedral. The chapel is located at the bottom of Park Street among cafes, takeaways and shops separated from the cathedral by College Green.
“The chapel is bigger than it looks on the outside,” said Rosewell. “You go down some steps so the ceiling is higher than it appears from the pavement. It really speaks of old Bristol, so ornate and delicate. It’s a lovely space.”
Another interesting feature is stained glass taken from William Beckford’s ill-fated Gothic revival country house Fonthill Abbey, the main tower of which collapsed several times.
The Grade I-listed chapel, also known as St Mark’s, is the only remaining building of the Hospital of St Mark, which was founded in 1220. The hospital used to provide care and food to 100 Bristolians a day and was connected to the nearby Abbey of St Augustine, which became Bristol Cathedral after the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII.
The chapel was sold off in 1541 to the Bristol corporation for £1,000.
In 1722 the chapel became the official place of worship for the city’s lord mayor. It is believed to be one of the only two remaining lord mayor’s churches in the country, the other being St Lawrence Jewry in the City of London.
Though the Bristol chapel is still owned by the city council, the cathedral has taken over as custodian and will reopen it on Friday 30 June.
The Very Rev Mandy Ford, the dean of Bristol, said: “We are delighted to be playing our part in preserving and sharing this beautiful chapel for the benefit of the whole city of Bristol. We look forward to welcoming visitors, pilgrims, tourists, and worshippers to enjoy this special place.”
The chapel will open from 10.30am-4pm every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. There will be a charge for entry.
