From a travelers perspective, the Bristol Cathedral is a beautiful piece of architecture, inside and out. As do most churches throughout the UK and Europe, the history of the building, the congregation and the community are all readily available from booklets within the Cathedral.

As a tourist, at times it is just a joy to stand within such a place and appreciate the history and intricate detail.

At Christmas there are loads of activities to participate in, for religious and non-religious. In summer and Autumn the surrounding grounds of College Green allow you to sit in the sun and take in the amazing exterior of the Cathedral. Though, there is nothing better than soaking up the rays on a Sunday afternoon ensconced in the sounding of the bells.

For much of England's history, Bristol was the second city after London, and despite extensive bomb damage in 1940-41, traces still remain of its mediaeval past.

One of the best surviving buildings is its Cathedral. Once an Augustinian Abbey, the Cathedral is an excellent example of a former abbey church given a new use after the reformation. Its location - despite being fairly central - gives it a tranquil, undiscovered quality: a meditative calm, with few tourists to disturb the peace.

The building itself was founded in 1140. The Chapter House, which dates from 1165, is the main survivor of this period, and this superb, richly decorated room is one of most important pieces of Norman architecture in England. Most of the rest of the church dates from a programme of rebuilding begun in 1298 and completed in the 1480s.

This rebuilding introduced some important architectural innovations. The first is the nave itself: the aisles are the same height as the nave, effectively creating a large pillared hall. This design, now known as a 'hall church', became the prototype for many similar buildings in mainland Europe.

In 1330, work on the Choir was begun, and here another innovation can be seen: the arches of the aisles have no capitals, and so sweep uninterrupted from floor to the apex of ceiling vault. The effect is to give an unusual feeling of space and gracefulness.

The Abbey was dissolved in 1539, and it became the city's cathedral in 1542. Much of the original nave was damaged at this time, and it had to wait for a Victorian restoration in 1877 and the completion of the west towers in 1888 for the building to attain its present shape.

The cathedral has a number of items of interest besides its architecture: there is a rare Saxon sculpture depicting Christ in the Harrowing of Hell (when the newly risen Christ descends to hell to assert his victory over evil, and release the souls of those who have not heard the Gospel), mediaeval glass in the Lady Chapel windows, interesting carved misericords (choir seats) from 1520, and an extensive set of tombs, including some spectacular ones of former Bishops.

After visiting the Cathedral, it's a pleasant walk around the harbour to the church of St Mary, Redcliffe, one of England's finest and most famous late mediaeval buildings (see separate entry).

*******************************************************

Photographs added 29-01-2008

The choir at Bristol Cathedral has recently been voted Bristol´s best kept secret, and it is surely a magical experience to hear the transcendental sound reverberate around the cold stone walls of this majestic edifice.

The building started life almost nine hundred years ago, so fans of architecture will find plenty of interesting featured in its development over the centuries. For the whole family, there is a lovely cafe serving classic C of E titbits (tea, cake, et al), and overall the Cathedral´s central location provides a sanctuary of quietude amongst the throng of metropolitan life.

I am not formely religious and I am not a historian so don't expect this review to be based on history or religion. What I am appreciative of is nice place, nice things and nice environments. Bristol Cathedral fits all this. It sits on college green where you are likely to find some skate boarders, some students, a homeless person, office workers enjoying lunch (in the sun?) and a general passing of people. These mix of people enjoying college green with the backdrop of the cathedral is, for me, the perfect backdrop for the cathedral.

The building is imposing and I presume full of history. It is welcoming and the staff seem to be very friendly. I have visited on a number of occassions - some to think, others with friends or visitors to the city and other times to escape the weather including rain and heat.

I would recommend anyone to visit the cathedral - it is an inspiring place regardless of your faith or architectural preference.

Originally founded as an Augustine monastry in 1142, this beautiful Cathedral is an impressive building that contains a Norman chapterhouse, 14th Century buttresses, many tombs and effigies and misericords.
Evensong is sung most days at 5.15pm, and there is an annual programme of concerts and recitals including Tuesday lunchtime sessions.

bristol is now growing bigger by the day and its night life is out standing with over 100 vars and clubs in the city centre is astonishing, bristol has many wonderful facts that are here like the greast industrialist Brunel he built the Clifton suspension bridge and the great iron ship.
alot surrounds the bristol history, some bad like the slave trade and some good automation and ports.
we have one of the biggest docking in the country.

The Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity is the Anglican cathedral in the city of Bristol, England, and is commonly known as Bristol Cathedral. Founded in 1140, it became the seat of the bishop and cathedral of the new Diocese of Bristol in 1542.

Located on College Green, across which its architecture can be seen to advantage, the cathedral presents a harmonious view of tall Gothic windows and pinnacled skyline that belies the fact that it was constructed over a period of more than 700 years.

The cathedral has much of interest including unique architectural features, unusual memorials and a large historic organ.