St James' Church, Bristol

Infobox Historic building


caption=Church of Saint James
name=St James's Priory
location_town=Bristol
location_country=England
latitude=51.458522
longitude=-2.593669
map_type=Bristol
architect=
client=Robert Rufus
engineer=
construction_start_date=1129
completion_date=
date_demolished=
cost=
structural_system=
style=
size=

The Priory Church of St James, Bristol (gbmapping|ST588734) [http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=51.458605&lon=-2.593044&z=20&l=0&m=h&v=2] is a Grade I listed buildingcite web | title=Church of St James | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=380890 | accessdate=2006-10-25] in Horsefair, Whitson Street.

Founded in 1129 as a Benedictine priory by Robert Rufus, the illegitimate son of Henry 1st, Earl of Gloucester and Lord of Bristol.

The nave survives from 1129 but the tower was added around 1374. The south aisle was widened and rebuilt in 1698. The porch dates from the late 18th century, and the north aisle was rebuilt in 1864., [cite book |last=Burrough |first=THB |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Bristol |year=1970 |publisher=Studio Vista |location=London |isbn=0289798043 ]

Legend has it that every 10th stone brought from Normandy to build the Castle was set aside to build the Priory, and therefore ‘now that the castle has vanished these stones are like an echo from 800 years ago.’

The building is on the English Heritage Buildings at Risk Register and described as being in very bad condition. [cite web | title=St James Priory, Whitson Street | work=English Heritage Buildings at Risk Register | url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/ConBar.6533 | accessdate=2007-10-26]

t James's Fair

From 1238 an annual fair held over fifteen days, was held here. Originally starting on July 25th (the feast day of St James) it was later changed to the first fortnight in September.

The fair, which was held in the Churchyard and adjoining streets, was regarded as the most important of the Bristol Fairs.

By the 17thC the fair was so prominent that merchant ships sailing in to Bristol for it were frequently attacked by Turkish pirates in the Bristol Channel.

The last fair was held in 1837.

It also subsequently left its mark on the geography of Bristol as the roundabout nearby is called the Horsefair.

t James Priory Project

After the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the nave of the priory church continued in use as a parish church. It fell into disuse in the 1980s but in 1996 the Little Brothers of Nazareth re-established it as a Catholic Church, and set up the St James Priory Project ( [http://www.stjamesprioryproject.org.uk] ) which offers comprehensive support to people with a history of homelessness who have a substance dependency.

References

ee also

* Grade I listed buildings in Bristol
* Churches in Bristol

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/churchcrawler/bristol/james.htm ChurchCrawler's Page on St James with numerous photographs]
* [http://www.about-bristol.co.uk/chu-08.asp History from about-bristol.co.uk]
* [http://www.ukattraction.com/west-country/the-priory-church-of-st-james.htm History from ukattraction.com]
* [http://www.digitalbristol.org/members/bths/bths2.jpgExcavations of the Priory]

*EHbarName|St+James+Priory