Jeel Scholarship Fund
Building a Better Future
Bristol Cathedral July 2025
We travelled to Bristol by train, and it was a short walk from the station to the Cathedral in the centre of the city. In 1140 an Augustinian Abbey was founded on the site dissolved as part of Henry VIII ‘s reformation. In 1542 it became part of the Church of England and renamed Bristol Cathedral. The present configuration was completed in 1860. It is Romanesque in style and has two Lady chapels viz the Eastern Lady Chapel circa 1298 -1330 and the Elder Lady Chapel circa 1220. Bristol Cathedral was the venue for the first ordination of women priests in England on 12 March 1994, so it is not surprising it has a female Dean. There was a small, tented camp of the homeless in the grounds sited conveniently for the toilets and garden.
In the north transept there was a window dedicated to the memory of slave trader Edward Colston (1636 – 1721), who gave generously to the Cathedral for repairs and renovations There is an exhibition in the Cathedral telling the truth of slavery. The Cathedral is now committed to work with others to repent past sins and prevent racism building a better future for all God’s children.
The motto in the window reflects the story of the Good Samaritan and encourage kindness to strangers reading ‘Go Thou and Do Likewise.’ The exhibition is permanent and includes the story of John Hylas a Black Barbadian who was a slave who came to Great Britain. He worked on the estate of John Newton in King’s Bromley Staffordshire and is 1758 he married Mary also a slave and personal maid. The ‘owner ‘of John Hylas died in 1763, so this meant he was a free man. His wife Mary was shipped back to Barbados by John Newton as Mary’s legal status was different. John Hylas sued John Newton and argued that by their lawful marriage then Mary and he were ‘one flesh.’ In December 1768 Chief-Justice Wilmot agreed with John Hylas and ordered Newton to ship back Mary to her husband within six months. In addition to the exhibition the Cathedral raises money to support those who experience the impact of racism and inequality including modern slavery. Another action is to celebrate the people of African and Afro-Caribbean heritage and their contribution to the city and Diocese of Bristol.
The North Transept has many memorials of people who benefitted from the slave trade. Also, an Anglo-Saxon stone carving dating back over a thousand years which depicts Jesus rescuing Adam and Eve from Hell known as ‘Harrowing of Hell.’
The Chapter House dates from 1165 and is the most complete part of the former abbey. Here the monks would have sat daily to hear a chapter from the Rule of St Augustine. The lovely cloisters date from fifteenth century to early sixteenth century and have picturesque stained glass reconstructed in 1951 from glass damaged during World War Two.
We ate our picnic lunch in the busy gardens adjacent to the café and toilets. The latter twinned with toilets in Uganda. The gardens were well cared for and stocked with a variety of herbs and a statue to the memory of refugees.
The shop was a couple of stands in the entrance and seemed to be an afterthought. We completed our tour with a walk along the canal and river back to the station.
Bristol is free to enter and allows dogs as you can see.