Trail:

St John's on the Wall

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Bristol, St John's on the Wall

ST. JOHN'S ON THE WALL (or St. John the Baptist), Nelson Street/ Broad Street. Now redundant, opened by the Churches Conservation Trust.

  • Opening: Tuesday - Friday 11am to 4pm. CryptGlossary Term not normally open.
  • Access: Eight steps up inside south entrance.
  • Map

St. John's sits astride the city wall, its W steepleGlossary Term over the only surviving city gate at the bottom of Broad Street. In the outside N wall of St. John's is St. John's ConduitGlossary Term. The present surround is of 1866, but water has been piped here from a spring on Brandon Hill since 1376. St John's sits over a very good C14 CRYPTGlossary Term with undulating late DecoratedGlossary Term vaults at the E end; not generally open to the public. Interior: a late C14 six-bayGlossary Term naveGlossary Term, aiseless and unclerestoried with tall recessed windows divided by wall shafts; seen in perspective they ripple and dissolve, giving the naveGlossary Term an expansive air. Unusual single-bayGlossary Term clerestory to lightGlossary Term the roodGlossary Term screenGlossary Term. Graceful moulded chancelGlossary Term archGlossary Term and two bayGlossary Term chancelGlossary Term. Exceptionally complete C17 woodwork includes Communion tableGlossary Term (1635) and rails; reading desk c.1630 with arched panels re-used from the cryptGlossary Term screenGlossary Term; pews (c.1621); stone fontGlossary Term on cross plan (1624) with open crownGlossary Term cover in oak; late C17 W galleryGlossary Term containing C18 panels painted with saints. Post-warGlossary Term chancelGlossary Term N window by Bell of Bristol depicting Christ with St. John the Baptist and St. Lawrence. Late C17 brass LECTERN on baluster stem with acanthusGlossary Term decoration; C18 wrought ironGlossary Term SWORD REST; C19 stone pulpitGlossary Term. MONUMENTS: ChancelGlossary Term: tomb chest to the church's patron Walter Frampton d.1388, with very fine effigy flanked by angels, and a dog at his feet; brass to Thomas Rowley and his wife, c.1478; wall monumentGlossary Term to Andrew Innys d.1723, by Michael Rysbrack."

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