Search churches in Bristol
Find churches across Bristol and the surrounding area.
Bristol's great historic churches
- St Mary Redcliffe: described by Elizabeth I as "the fairest, goodliest and most famous parish church in England", a soaring Gothic masterpiece funded by medieval merchants, with a spire visible across the harbourside. Still a busy parish with an excellent choir.
- Bristol Cathedral: founded as an Augustinian abbey in 1140, notable as a rare English example of a hall church, where the aisles rise to the same height as the nave. Daily worship and free entry on College Green.
- The New Room, Broadmead: built by John Wesley in 1739, the oldest Methodist meeting house in the world, hidden among the shops with a museum, café and regular services. Charles Wesley's house nearby completes the story.
- Clifton Cathedral: the Catholic Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul, a striking 1973 concrete building in Clifton, much admired by architects and warmly used by its congregation.
- St Nicholas, Bristol Bridge: a medieval and Georgian church restored to worship in recent years as a resource church.
Church life in Bristol today
Bristol punches above its weight in contemporary church life. Large Anglican congregations in Clifton and Cotham sit alongside newer plants in the city centre, and the city's Baptist and independent evangelical tradition remains strong. Easton and St Pauls host long-established Caribbean and African congregations, part of the legacy of Bristol's post-war communities, while the universities feed thriving student churches. The Methodist story that began at the New Room continues in circuits across the city, and Quakers, Orthodox parishes and international fellowships from Poland to Korea round out the picture. Social action runs deep here, with church-run food banks, debt advice centres and night shelters across the city.
Browse Bristol churches in the directory
See every church we list in Bristol on the city page, or browse the whole area on our Bristol county page.
Practical notes for visitors
- Sunday services cluster between 9.30am and 11am, with evening gatherings at the larger evangelical churches.
- St Mary Redcliffe and the cathedral are both open daily and free, with choral services worth planning around.
- The New Room is open Monday to Saturday; entrance to the chapel is free, with a small charge for the museum upstairs.
- The harbourside churches are all walkable from Temple Meads station; Clifton is a pleasant uphill walk or a short bus ride.
Frequently asked questions
Is St Mary Redcliffe a cathedral?
No, though visitors often assume so from its size. It is a parish church, arguably the grandest in the country, and Bristol's actual cathedral stands across the harbour on College Green.
Why does Methodism matter in Bristol?
Methodism effectively began here. John Wesley preached in the open air to Kingswood miners in 1739 and built the New Room the same year, making Bristol the movement's first home and a place of pilgrimage for Methodists worldwide.