St Mary le Port Church, Bristol
Encyclopedia
St Mary le Port is a ruined parish church
in the centre of Bristol
, England. It is said to have been founded in Saxon
times, and rebuilt and enlarged between the 11th and 16th centuries.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries the church was a very popular centre of evangelical
, Protestant, and Calvinist teaching within Anglicanism.
The church was bombed in the Second World War on 24 November 1940. All that remains is the 15th century tower, a grade II listed building, which during the latter years of the 20th century was surrounded by the buildings of Norwich Union
and the Bank of England
. A new building development was proposed in 2005.
It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument
.
After the bombing in 1940 the congregation and their rector, William Dodgson-Sykes, moved to St John on the Wall Church
, where the congregation remained, in gradually declining numbers, till this church building was closed for worship by the Church Commissioners
in 1984 (after a protracted struggle by the congregation). The remaining congregation then moved to the Chapel of Foster's Almshouses
, and joined the Church of England (Continuing)
in 1995 http://www.continuingcofe.org/Journal%2005.pdf. The C of E (Continuing) no longer lists a congregation in Bristol - some of the congregation joined with the new Free Presbyterian Church
(Ulster) congregation in Horfield, Bristol.
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
in the centre of Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England. It is said to have been founded in Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
times, and rebuilt and enlarged between the 11th and 16th centuries.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries the church was a very popular centre of evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
, Protestant, and Calvinist teaching within Anglicanism.
The church was bombed in the Second World War on 24 November 1940. All that remains is the 15th century tower, a grade II listed building, which during the latter years of the 20th century was surrounded by the buildings of Norwich Union
Norwich Union
Norwich Union was the name given to insurance company Aviva's British arm before June 2009. It was originally established in 1797. It is the biggest life insurance provider in the United Kingdom, and has a strong position in motor insurance...
and the Bank of England
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
. A new building development was proposed in 2005.
It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument
Scheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...
.
After the bombing in 1940 the congregation and their rector, William Dodgson-Sykes, moved to St John on the Wall Church
Church of St John the Baptist, Bristol
The Church of St John the Baptist, Bristol is a former Church of England parish church at the lower end of Broad Street Bristol, England.-Design and construction:...
, where the congregation remained, in gradually declining numbers, till this church building was closed for worship by the Church Commissioners
Church Commissioners
The Church Commissioners is a body managing the historic property assets of the Church of England. It was set up in 1948 combining the assets of Queen Anne's Bounty, a fund dating from 1704 for the relief of poor clergy, and of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners formed in 1836...
in 1984 (after a protracted struggle by the congregation). The remaining congregation then moved to the Chapel of Foster's Almshouses
Chapel of the Three Kings of Cologne
The Chapel of the Three Kings of Cologne is a church in Colston Street, near the top of Christmas Steps, Bristol, England.The chapel was built in 1504 and refaced and roofed in 1861 by Foster and Wood, with further restoration in 1865...
, and joined the Church of England (Continuing)
Church of England (Continuing)
The Church of England is part of the Continuing Anglican Movement. It was founded in England on 10 February 1994 at a meeting chaired by Dr. David N. Samuel held at St. Mary's, Castle Street, Reading, in reaction to the use of Common Worship and to the ordination of women...
in 1995 http://www.continuingcofe.org/Journal%2005.pdf. The C of E (Continuing) no longer lists a congregation in Bristol - some of the congregation joined with the new Free Presbyterian Church
Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster
The Free Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian denomination founded by the Rev. Ian Paisley in 1951. Most of its members live in Northern Ireland...
(Ulster) congregation in Horfield, Bristol.
Clergy of St Mary-le-Port church
The church's clergy have included:- William Waite, rector, born 1764, died 1842, dates at St Mary le Port unknown
- William Tandey, curate 1784 - 1799 (lived 1750-1832)
- James Marshall, rector 1842 - (born 23 February 1796, died 29 August 1855)
- Mr Thomas, rector, resigned 1857
- Samuel Abraham Walker, rector 1857 - 1879 (born Dublin, 1809, died 30 November 1879) (source, The Gospel MagazineThe Gospel MagazineThe Gospel Magazine is a Calvinist, evangelical magazine from the United Kingdom, and is one of the longest running of such periodicals, having been founded in 1766. Most of the editors have been Anglicans. It is currently published bi-monthly....
, January, 1880) - James OrmistonJames OrmistonJames Norris Ormiston was a Progressive Conservative party member of the Canadian House of Commons. He was born in Regina, Saskatchewan and became a farmer and insurance agent by career....
, rector 1880 (and as at the 1901 censusUnited Kingdom Census 1901A nationwide census was conducted in England and Wales on 31 March 1901. It contains records for 32 million people and 6 million houses, It covers the whole of England and Wales, with the exception of parts of Deal in Kent. Separate censuses were held in Scotland and Ireland...
) (previously at Old Hill, West Midlands; editor of The Gospel MagazineThe Gospel MagazineThe Gospel Magazine is a Calvinist, evangelical magazine from the United Kingdom, and is one of the longest running of such periodicals, having been founded in 1766. Most of the editors have been Anglicans. It is currently published bi-monthly....
from 1895–1916) - William Dodgson Sykes, rector (as at 1940) (editor of The Gospel MagazineThe Gospel MagazineThe Gospel Magazine is a Calvinist, evangelical magazine from the United Kingdom, and is one of the longest running of such periodicals, having been founded in 1766. Most of the editors have been Anglicans. It is currently published bi-monthly....
from 1964–1975)
-
- - son of William SykesWilliam Sykes (clergyman)William Sykes , born Barrow-in-Furness, was first Curate of St John's Church, Tunbrdige Wells; Vicar of Hillsborough and Wadsley Bridge, Sheffield, 1895–1919; Vicar of Audley, Staffordshire, 1919–1928; first President of the Sovereign Grace Union 1913–1930.Married Miss Anne Jane...
(first President of the Sovereign Grace Union) - - Principal of the Bible Churchmen's Missionary and Theological College, later part of Trinity College, BristolTrinity College, BristolTrinity College Bristol is a Christian college affiliated to the Church of England, though students come from different denominations. It is located in Stoke Bishop in Bristol, England, next to the University of Bristol's residential halls...
- (Bible Churchmen's Missionary Society, now CrosslinksCrosslinksCrosslinks is an evangelical Anglican missionary society, drawing its support mainly from parishes in the Church of England and Church of Ireland. It was known as the Bible Churchmen's Missionary Society until 1992-The Society's foundation:...
- - Head of the Irish Church MissionsIrish Church MissionsThe Irish Church Mission to the Roman Catholics is a conservative and semi-autonomous Anglican mission. It was founded in 1849 chiefly by English Anglicans with the backing and support of the Church of Ireland clergy and Bishops.-History:...
- - son of William Sykes