St John on the Wall, Bristol

Address:
Broad Street, Bristol BS1 2EZ
How to find us | Access information
Opening times:
Opened Tuesday to Saturday by volunteers, usually between 11am and 2pm. Call Ed McGregor Volunteering Officer 07872 502 118 in advance to ensure that the church will be open for your visit.
  • The long nave at St John's consists of six tall bays. Five are of a similar design with large windows set in arches, giving a sense of width and spaciousness. Picture © Ian Sumner
  • A medieval memorial to Walter Frampton, three times Mayor of Bristol and founder of St John's (d.1388), lies in the chancel keeping watch over the church. Picture © Ian Sumner.
  • Beneath St John's is a vaulted crypt, once dedicated to the Holy Cross.
  • The nave pews are of oak with panelled sides and date from c.1621. They were lowered in the re-ordering in the 19th century. Picture © Ian Sumner
  • The tall, slender tower is in three stages, the lowest of which has a tall moulded arch, forming the city gate, flanked by two smaller arches built in 1828 for use by pedestrians.
  • Gates and walls were favoured locations for medieval town churches, with travellers offering prayers before a journey. At churches like St John's this could often be turned to profitable advantage by the incumbent. Picture © Ian Sumner
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A church rising from Bristol's medieval walls

St John's is part of the very fabric of Bristol - it was built into the city walls in the fourteenth century as a place for travellers to offer prayers before a journey. In the twelfth century there were five churches built into Bristol's city walls, acting both as part of the city's defences, and as places for travellers to offer prayers before a journey. St John's is the only one that remains.

As you walk down the slope of Broad Street, the view of the Gothic city gate with the elegant perpendicular spire of St John's rising above, is stunning. The building of St John's coincided with a period of great prosperity for Bristol. Walter Frampton (died 1388), who was mayor of the city three times, founded the church, and his splendid monument stands in the chancel. His effigy lies on a tombchest decorated with heraldic shields, with a long-tailed dog at his feet.

Other monuments in the chancel, and in the early fourteenth century vaulted crypt beneath, testify to the wealth and business activity of the city in medieval times and later. See, for example, the alabaster tomb in the crypt of a merchant and his wife, with their ten children represented in panels below.

The interior of the church is impressively tall and graceful, with fine fittings dating mostly from the seventeenth century. On the north side of the church built into the city wall is a fountain, a branch of a conduit installed to bring water to the Carmelite Friary 700 years ago. It is said that at election times in the past it was sometimes made to run with wine.

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  • Access information

    Church is situated on the junction of Broad Street and Quay Street. Entrance to upper church is on the Broad Street side and entrance to crypt on Quay Street/Nelson Street via a small door. Metered car parking on Broad Street and multiple city centre car parks nearby. Due to the churches location it can not remain unlocked outside of volunteer opening times.

    The Grand Hotel is located nearby and the Guildhall is the closest landmark.

    Steps to the church are worn and steep. The crypt entrance is narrower and lower than a modern door.

  • Disabled access information
    There are three and a bit steps down into the crypt totaling approximately 610mm in height. There is no handrail.
  • Facilities & Hire
    There is no heating, running water or toilet facilities. The lighting is operated manually. 
  • Directions
    Tower Lane, bottom of Broad Street at intersection with Nelson Street. Cloest landmark is the Guildhall.
  • Transport

    Close to most city centre bus routes. Bus and coach terminus 0.25 mile.

    Nearest railway station: Bristol Temple Meads (1 mile).

  • History & Further Information

     

    Why not make your visit more enjoyable and informed by finding out more about this church before you visit?

    Sacred & Spiritual Bristol

    Bristol can be proud not only of its rich history and seafaring links, but also of its profusion of churches and places to worship. Any visit to Bristol should at least include a glimpse inside some of these remarkable locations that have helped to make Bristol a place of significant religious importance.

    You can discover more about Sacred Bristol by downloading the Sacred Bristol brochure (PDF, 1.7MB), listening to The Bristol Churches Trail MP3 tour or going on the Wesley Walk (PDF, 72KB).

    You can download a range of publications below including the relevant county guide, and any walk round guides we have for this church.

    Bristol & Gloucestershire County Guide

    This free of charge short guide contains details of all the churches we care for in Cornwall, Devon & Dorset. Printed copies of the county guide are also available at the church.

  • Volunteering Opportunities
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  • Community information

    All our Bristol churches are in our West region.

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    TGIF promotion rules

    Please, note: CCT employees may not participate. Only one prize per winner. Winner must be able to pick up prize at our church, St John on the Wall or St Thomas (both in Bristol centre) and must agree to have his/ her photo posted on social media.  Winner will be contacted privately via Instagram.

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