Clifton College Scientific Society. 33 



Since the foundation of Sfc Mary Redcliffe Church times have 

 changed very much, and by the change Bristol, I thinli, has not 

 benefited. In few other parts of the workl has the antiquarian 

 such opportunities of pursuing his study as in Bristol ; and in 

 Bristol I am sure that the first place to attract his attention 

 would be St Mary Redcliffe Church. 



I cannot profess to describe the church to you exactly and in 

 detail, but I will say a little about its principal parts, and the 

 chief objects to be seen there. There is much uncertainty as to 

 the actual founder of St Mary Redcliffe, some people tliinking 

 that it was Sir Simon de Burton, others that it was William 

 Canynges. The evidence, however, shows that in all probability 

 De Burton actually founded the church, and Canynges completed 

 it, and gave to it the splendour and beauty which one admires so 

 much at the present day. Taking this view of the case, the 

 evidence shows that Sir Simon de Burton founded the church 

 in the year 1292 ; but though actually begun then, the body of 

 the church was not built till the year 1377, nearly a century 

 later. In the year 1377 William Canynges, senior, completed 

 the body of the church, and thus finished what De Burton had 

 begun. De Burton and Canynges were both of them famous men 

 in their times. They were each five times Mayor of Bristol, which 

 shows the high rank they must have held among their brother 

 merchants. There is evidence regarding the dates in some wills 

 which contain allusions to the state of the church, — money being 

 left "for the fabric, and towards repairing the Church of Redcliffe." 

 In the year 1445, the steeple was knocked down by lightning, and 

 as it fell on part of the church, great harm was done ; ' but,' as an 

 old MS. observes, ' by the good devotion of Mr William Canynges 

 it was re-edified, to his everlasting praise.' Many people believe 

 that the steeple was never knocked down ; bi;t it is certainly dis- 

 tinctly stated in the MSS., from which nearly all the history that 

 we know of the church is derived, so that, if we are to believe 

 the i-est, I think we are bound to accept this also. 



The north porch is the finest and oldest part of the church. 

 Its architecture is of the style known as Early English. The Early 

 English style was at its best in the thirteenth and fourteenth 

 centuries, so we may safely ascribe the north porch to William 

 Canynges, senior, sometime during Edward III.'s reign, between 

 the years 1327 and 1377. We know that in the year 1377 — the 

 year in which Edward died — the church was finished, so the north 

 porch was probably built during the latter part of the reign. The 

 architecture of the north porch is wonderful ; each part is a study 

 in itself. Every stone in it is elaborately perfect. AH the tracing 

 of the ceiling and carving is exquisitely done. This part of the 



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