St Jude's Church, Bristol
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| St Jude's Church | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Interactive map of the St Jude's Church area | |
| Alternative names | Church of St Jude the Apostle with St Matthias-on-the-Weir |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Location | Bristol, England |
| Coordinates | 51°27′27″N 2°34′48″W / 51.45740°N 2.57997°W |
| Construction started | 16 August 1848 |
| Completed | 31 October 1849 |
| Height | |
| Height | 82 ft (25 m) (tower) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area |
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| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Samuel Burleigh Gabriel |
| Main contractor | William Monks (mason) G. Monk and Son (carpenters) |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Church of St Jude the Apostle With St Matthias on the Weir |
| Designated | 4 March 1977 |
| Reference no. | 1204207 |
St Jude's Church, formally the Church of St Jude the Apostle with St Matthias-on-the-Weir, is a former Anglican church located on Bragg's Lane and Lamb Street in the St Jude's area of Bristol, England. Designed by Samuel Burleigh Gabriel in the Decorated Gothic Revival style, the church was consecrated in 1849 to serve the impoverished district of Poyntzpool.[1][2]
The church was designated a Grade II listed building in 1977.[1] Following its closure as a place of worship in 1986, the building sat vacant and deteriorating for nearly two decades before being converted into apartments in 2004–2005.[3][4]
Redundancy and conversion
The church was established in the district known historically as Poyntzpool (later renamed St Jude's after the church), an area located outside Lawford's Gate.[5] In the early 18th century, the land, then known as the Lamb Ground or Great Wells, was developed by Nathaniel Wade, who laid out a street grid including Wade Street, Great George Street, and Great Anne Street.[5] By the mid-19th century, the area had developed a notorious reputation for squalor, crime, and social deprivation.[6] Contemporary reports from 1848 described the locality as "one of, if not the most squalid and abominable, quarters of the city," noting that the specific site selected for the church had previously been a common ground used for "ruffianism," gambling, and boxing matches.[7] The area was also historically associated with bull-baiting; the church was built on the site of the former "Bullring," near a thoroughfare colloquially known as "Bull Paunch Lane" (historically Bullpaunch Lane).[3][7][8] The press characterized the construction of the church as the conversion of "a den of thieves into a house of prayer," intended to uplift a population of approximately 5,000, very few of whom could afford to contribute to the building costs.[7][6]
The ecclesiastical district of St Jude was consecrated under the Endowments of Populous Parishes Act 1843 (Sir Robert Peel's Act).[6] Efforts to procure a site were initially difficult until Colonel Masters, the Lord of the Manor, donated the Poyntzpool land.[6] The foundation stone was laid on 16 August 1848 by Archdeacon Thorp. During the ceremony, a brass plate engraved by a Mr. Willett was deposited in a cavity of the stone.[6] The church itself was designed by the Bristol architect Samuel Burleigh Gabriel and constructed at a cost of approximately £2,500 to £2,979.[9][3] The construction work was carried out by William Monks (mason), G. Monk and Son (carpenters), and other local tradesmen, with J. H. Hirst serving as clerk of the works.[2] St Jude's was consecrated on 31 October 1849 by the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol.[2]
In 1884, the church underwent a thorough renovation under the direction of architect E. Henry Edwards. This project involved cleaning the stonework of whitewash, installing a wooden dado, altering the choir stalls, and adding extensive interior decoration.[10]
The church was struck by lightning on 7 July 1931 during a severe storm, reported to have struck the northern pinnacle of the tower, sending heavy masonry crashing into the road and damaging the roof of the aisle and nearby houses on Lamb Street and Lawford Street.[11]
In 1960 the coal-fired heating system was replaced with suspended heating equipment, installed with the help of parishioners.[12]
St Jude's was declared redundant in 1986, having not held a service for nearly ten years prior to its sale.[13][14] Following redundancy, the building faced an uncertain future, and in 1982, proposals were discussed for a local martial arts group to take over the premises.[15][16] The church was sold at auction in August 1995 for £40,000, but the sale fell through when the buyer failed to complete the payment.[13] It was subsequently re-auctioned in December 1995 and sold for £20,000 to a property developer.[14] By 1999, the interior was reported to be in a poor state, though the pulpit and reredos remained in situ. Between 2004 and 2005, the building was converted into residential apartments.[3]
