Clifton Cathedral
| Clifton Cathedral | |
|---|---|
| The Cathedral Church of SS. Peter and Paul | |
.jpg)
Clifton Cathedral, opened in 1973
|
|
 Clifton Cathedral
Shown within Bristol
|
|
| Coordinates: 51°27′35″N 2°36′59″W / 51.4597°N 2.6163°W | |
| Location | Bristol, Bristol |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | www.cliftoncathedral.org.uk |
| History | |
| Consecrated | 1973 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | R. Weeks, F.S. Jennett and A. Poremba of Percy Thomas Partnership |
| Years built | 1970-1973 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1000 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Clifton (since 1973) |
| Province | Birmingham |
| Clergy | |
| Bishop(s) | Declan Ronan Lang |
| Dean | Bosco MacDonald |
| Laity | |
| Director of music | Richard Jeffrey-Gray |
| Organist(s) | Stephen Bryant |
The Cathedral Church of SS. Peter and Paul is the Roman Catholic cathedral in the English city of Bristol. Located in the Clifton area of the city, it is the seat of the Diocese of Clifton and is known as Clifton Cathedral. It has been a Grade II* Listed Building since 2000.
Clifton cathedral was built to replace the previous diocesan seat of Pro-Cathedral of the Holy Apostles in Bristol (1850-1973). The pro-cathedral had a history of problematic construction work. It was built as a church on a challenging hillside site, making work there difficult. Building started in 1834, stopped a year later, started again in 1843, stopped shortly after and the building lay abandoned until 1848 when a roof was placed on the half-completed building so that it could be used as a church.
Two years later, in 1850, Clifton was made an episcopal see and the church became the Pro-Cathedral, intended to act in this capacity until a more fitting cathedral church could be constructed.
In 1965, architects were commissioned to undertake the design of a new cathedral on a different site in Clifton. The design was primarily by R.J. Weeks, working with F.S. Jennett and A. Poremba of the Percy Thomas Partnership.
Construction began in March 1970 and completed in May 1973 by John Laing & Son Ltd, also the main contractor at Coventry Cathedral. That same year, on 29 June, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, the new cathedral was consecrated and opened and the pro-Cathedral was closed.
In 2011, it hosted the filming of 'Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol' an S4C television programme, that translates as 'Start Singing Start Praising'. The Cathedral hosted musicians, singers, cameramen and crew filming for the faith and music programme.
The interior design has been seen as unusual. Its internal shape is due to the architect's innovative response to the requirements set down by the Second Vatican Council. It was decreed in the Council that the congregation should all have a good view of the altar.; accordingly, the sanctuary is Hexagonal to allow the 1,000 capacity congregation a close and clear view of the altar, and there are no windows within the congregation's line of sight of the altar. Daytime lighting is provided by natural roof lights, so that the light from outside comes from the ring beam walls. This ensures that the sanctuary area remains the focus of the cathedral. The baptistery is situated close to the entrance, whilst the seating is around the lectern and altar space, reflecting a person's sacramental journey within the Catholic Church.
...
Wikipedia