If you’ve been down Park Street recently or enjoyed the weather hanging out on College Green, then you’ve likely seen The Lord Mayor’s Chapel. Sitting between Costa Coffee and the former Fopp record store, it doesn’t catch the eye easily. But this secret chapel features some of the most stunning examples of medieval architecture in Bristol.
Not that anyone is likely to have been in to see it recently. The Lord Mayor’s Chapel, also known as Saint Mark’s, has been closed to the public since 1541 when the Hospital of St Mark was bought from Henry VIII by the Bristol Corporation. In 1722, the Lord Mayor’s Chapel became the official place of worship of the Lord Mayor of Bristol and remained so ever since. (It’s actually one of only two remaining Lord Mayor’s churches in the country, with the other one being St Lawrence Jewry in London.)
As of tomorrow (June 30), that’s all about to change. Visitors will be able to once again experience this breathtaking chapel. Bristol Cathedral, which now takes care of The Lord Mayor’s Chapel, is committed to ensuring it is open to visitors for generations to come. As well as maintaining an active prayerful community in the Chapel every Sunday.
The Very Reverend Dr Mandy Ford, Dean of Bristol said: “We are delighted to be playing our part in preserving and sharing this beautiful chapel for the benefit of the whole city of Bristol. We look forward to welcoming visitors, pilgrims, tourists, and worshippers to enjoy this special place.”
The Lord Mayor’s Chapel is a Grade I listed building and features beautiful examples of medieval architecture in Bristol. Visitors will be able to see the fan-vaulted ceiling, the ornate Spanish tiled floor in the side chapel, as well as a big stained-glass window from William Beckford’s masterpiece Fonthill Abbey.
Frances Rosewell, Visitor Experience Director at Bristol Cathedral added: “I am pleased that we are able to once again welcome everyone to this incredible space and look forward to sharing stories from the Chapel’s rich history with visitors from all over the world.”
Tickets to The Lord Mayor’s Chapel cost £3 for an adult, £2 for NHS and Armed Forces, and £1 for children under 16. They are then valid for a year with unlimited returns. We can’t wait to see St Mark’s and Bristol Cathedral come together, as originally intended by the medieval monks, once again.