Description of the attraction
St Mary Redcliffe is an old church located in the center of Bristol, UK. This church, built in the XII-XV centuries, is known as one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture. Queen Elizabeth I called it the most beautiful church in the whole kingdom. The spire of the church rises 89 meters, and the church still remains the tallest building in Bristol.
The first Christian church on this site appeared in Saxon times, when the port of Bristol was just being built. The high spire of St. Mary Redcliffe served as a beacon for ships, and sailors prayed in this church before sailing and on their return.
The oldest parts of the church date back to the 12th century, but most of the current building was built between 1292 and 1370. Many noble and famous families of Bristol gave large sums of money for the construction and decoration of the church, as evidenced by the commemorative plaques. The original stained glass windows have practically not survived, the stained glass windows that adorn the church now were made in the Victorian era by the best craftsmen of that time.
