Description of the attraction
The Church of the Knights Templar is a partially destroyed church in downtown Bristol in the UK.
The church was founded in the middle of the 12th century by Robert of Gloucester and the Knights of the Knights Templar. The order was abolished in the XIV century, their property was transferred to the Order of the Hospitallers. After the abolition of the Order of the Hospitallers during the church reforms of Henry VIII, the church became a parish. Excavations have shown that the original Templar church was oval rather than rectangular as it is now. The church was also known as the Church of the Holy Cross. There was also a guild chapel of Bristol weavers. In the middle of the century, weaving was the leading industry in Bristol.
The construction of the church tower began at the end of the 14th century, but construction was suspended because the tower began to lurch. However, then the tower with the bell tower was completed, because the roll has stabilized.
In November 1940, during the bombing of Bristol by fascist aircraft, the church was destroyed. Part of the walls and a leaning tower have survived; a unique 15th century lamp is now in Bristol Cathedral.
After the war, the city authorities did not either restore the destroyed church or demolish it - it was decided to leave it as a monument.
