Clifton Cathedral (Saints Peter and Paul)
Clifton Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of Saints Peter and Paul, is Bristol's Roman Catholic cathedral. Completed in 1973 in reinforced concrete, it is Grade II* listed and a striking piece of late 20th-century design, with a hexagonal plan, no nave columns and walls of coloured glass.
Photos
Matthew Oxer
A modern cathedral
Building began in 1970 and the cathedral was consecrated on 29 June 1973, the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. The architects were Ronald Weeks, Frederick Jennett and Antoni Poremba of the Percy Thomas Partnership. Its late-Brutalist form uses in-situ concrete with red granite cladding, topped by a hexagonal flèche and three-pronged spire. It was listed Grade II* in 2000. It is one of very few Catholic churches from the 1970s to be listed at this grade.
Inside
The interior is one open space seating around 1,000, spanned without columns so everyone has a clear view of the altar. Look for Henry Haig's dalle de verre windows, made from thousands of pieces of thick glass, William Mitchell's Stations of the Cross, the font carved by Simon Verity, and the Rieger organ installed in 1973. No windows sit in the congregation's direct sightline, a deliberate part of the design.
Visiting
This is a working cathedral with daily Mass, and visitors are welcome at services. Check the weekly newsletter for changes to Mass times before you go. It sits in Clifton, so combine it with Clifton Down, the Observatory and the Suspension Bridge viewpoint, or walk down to Bristol Museum & Art Gallery.
Highlights
- Consecrated in 1973; Grade II* listed
- Hexagonal flèche and three-pronged spire
- Henry Haig dalle de verre glass
- Column-free interior seating about 1,000
- Rieger organ with mechanical action
Good to know
- Mass is said daily; check the newsletter for changes.
- Visitors are welcome at any service.
- Contact the cathedral for access and parking details.
Frequently asked questions
Nearby
Sources: cliftoncathedral.org · en.wikipedia.org