Temple Church CMP

8/10/2019 Temple Church CMP

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ALAN BAXTER AND ASSOCIATES

ENGLISH HERITAGE

S UT W ^REGION

FE RU RY 3


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CONTENTS

1 Introduction 2

2 Identifying the

Asset:

history of theTemple

Church

4

Location and early history

The

Knights Templar and the

Templar

Fee

The Hospitallers and the Company of

Weavers

The Reformation to the early th century

194 and later

3 Defining significance 18

Introduction

As

a nationally important monument

Importance to Bristol

Importance to the area

4 Defining the issues 24

Introduction

Conservation priorities

w

uses

New building

Linking theTemple Church back into

its

surroundings

Improving

understanding of the asset

5 Policies 33

Introduction

General policies

Control of change

Provision of

services and

retention

of character

Care of the fabric

Setting

Management

6 Conclusion 38

ppendices

1

Scheduled monument

and

statutory list descriptions

2 List

of sources

L N XTER SSOCI TES

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1.2 TheTemple Church is both

aScheduled

Ancient Monument and

a

grade II listed

building.

It is therefore a

building

of outstanding national

architectural and historic

importance. It also

has

considerable local significance as a landmark.

13

The first

church

on the

site

was built by the Knights Templar in

the

12,h century

and, with the particular

support

of the

Weavers

Company,

developed

into Bristol s

second

largest parish

church

until

it

was

bombed

in

1940.

It has

remained a

roofless

ruined ever since,

closed to

public access and gradually decaying. It

was

taken into Guardianship in 1958 and

has,

since 1984, been in the care

of

English

Heritage. In recent years,

there has

been increasing

concern

at the

decay of

the

historic fabric,

and at the cost

of

maintaining

a

monument without

any

proper

function. This conservation

plan

was

commissioned to consider these and other

issues

facing the church

and those responsible for

its

upkeep.

INTRO U TION

1.1 In May

2002, Alan

Baxter Associates was

commissioned

by English Heritage to

prepare a Conservation Plan for the Temple Church in Bristol.

ethodology and sources

1.4

The

Conservation

Plan follows the

methodology

set out

by James Semple

Kerr

in

onservation lans

5th

edition,

National Trust of

Australia,

2000). It begins by

describing the historical development

of

theTemple

Church Section 2: Identifying

the Asset) before

assessing

the

relative

significance

of

its

various components

in

section 3.

This is followed

by a discussion of the conservation

issues which

are

raised,

particularly

by

the church s

currently ruined

state

and

lack

of

function

Section4: identifying the issues). The

final section

sets outpolicies for thechurch

to guide its

future

care and development.

1.5 Much of the historical and architectural information in this Plan is indebted to

research

by Keystone Historic Buildings Consultants, itself building on earlier

work

by Richard

Gem. We

have

also

been given

valuable help by Rob

Harding,

Arnold Root and Francis Kelly ofEnglish Heritage South-West Region. A list of

sources,

published

and

unpublished,

is given asAppendix 2.

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Consultations

1.6

n October

2002 a

consultation

draft of this Conservation

Plan

was issued for 7

comment to the following organisations and individuals:

Bristol

CityCouncil: _

Paul Barnett,

Head

of Cultural

Services

^

Stephen Price,

Head

ofMuseum

Services

Bob Jones, City

Archaeologist

Sarah Jones, Redcliffe Futures Team

Chris Heath, City

Centre and Urban Design Team

Ian

White,

Team Manager, Central

Area Planning

Peter

Wilkinson, Head of Parks Development

Diocese of Bristol:

Lesley Farrall

BristolTourism

and

Conference Bureau: John Hallet

Bristol

Civic

Society

and

Redcliffe Futures

Group:

David

Farnsworth,

Mr

G

Tucker, Mr M Lee

Bristol

Blue

Glass: Sandra Duck

Bristol and

Gloucestershire

Archaeological

Society: Mr

D Large

Bristol Society ofArchitects: Mr R Pedlar

Bristol

Visual and Environment Group:

Mrs

ED Brown

Council

for

the

Preservation of Ancient Bristol: Mr R Emanuel

Association for Industrial Archaeology: Mike Bore

Avon GardensTrust: Laurie

Bingle

CSJ Planning:

Julie

Lamming

Temple

Local

History Group: Julian

Lea

Jones

St

Mary

Redcliffe: Rev.

Tony

Whatmough

St Mary

Redcliffe and Redcliffe

Futures

Group: Margaret Cartledge

Society

for the

Protection

of

Ancient

Buildings: Matthew

Slocombe

nationally , John Winstone locally

Redcliffe

Parade

Environmental

Association

Mr Rod Dowling

1.7 Comments

received

by 6January

2003 have been

taken

into account n producing

this Conservation Plan

WwW12 7m

Garway, Herefordshire

Templars

Hereford, St Giles

Hospital chapel

Little

Maplestead,

Essex,

St John the

C 1 3 3 5

Parish

Church

10 8m

Baptist

London, St

John s Clerkenwell

C 1 1 4 4

Hospitallers

16m

London,TempleChurch

C 1 1 6 1 - 8 5

Templars

18m

Ludlowcastle chapel

Pr ivate

9 84

m

Northampton, StSepulchre

d

108 1113

Parish church

21 1m

Temple Bruer, Lincolnshire

C 1 1 5 0

Templars

18 2

m

West

Thurrock Essex, St

Clements

12* century?

Parish Church

Round

churches

in England: a

comparison

of

foundation dates,

founders and size afterSaunders, unpublished

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Fig 32: Saunders sketch section of trench B, with

phasing

Similar

sections survive

for trenches A. E, ,

^

Natural Clay

emplar Church Walls

emplar

Church Make up Layer

emplar Church Floor

4th Century NaveWalls

4th Century

Robbing

Trenches

Floor

take-up

>ost Medieval

Layers

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3 5 Medieval church: By far the most architecturally important part of the Medieval

church is the tower, which is

highly significant

The remainder of the church,

despite bomb damage (and 1871 and 1909 restorations) is still

significant

Although itwas not architecturally innovatoryor outstanding, in the way that St

Mary Redcliffe is, it was Bristol s second largest parish church and it reflects the

wealth and aspirations of a major medieval city. The

link

with the Hospitallers

is

also significant So too

is

the

Martyr s

Door, as a witness the religious turmoil of

the 1th century and the high price paid bymany

normal people for their beliefs.

3.6

18th ntury church:

This was clearly an

important phase in the history of the church,

linked to Edward Colston. Today, following the

1871

and 1909 restorations, it is represented in

the churchonlybythe porch

fig.

18), which

itself

had a narrow escape in 1909 and is therefore

significant This phase is also represented by the

ironwork

screens relocated in Mayor s Chapel and

StMary Redcliffe fig. 33).

3.7 19th 20th century restoration and new vestry:

Ponton and Gough were a Bristol practice that

produced some good architecture in the city,

notable the granaryon

Welsh

Back

of 1869

fig.

34).

Their

restorationof theTemple Church does

not appear to have been archaeologically based

and was not, overall, a creative piece of work.

t gives the impression of having been driven

more by dogma (witness Gough s dismissal of

the 1701 porch as an anachronism from our

architectural point of

view )

than by

an y

understanding of, or sympathy for, the church.

Th e individual

elements,

such as the

1871

reredos, which might have been intrinsically of

interest as examples of Gothic

Revival

design

and craftsmanship figs. 21 35), were all

destroyed by the bomb. The 1909

vestry is

undistinguished.

The

significance of this phase

is

therefore

neutral Only the screen

in

the passage

leading to the west porch has any

architectural merit; it

is

listed grade

and is

significant fig.

22).

Fig.

33: The ironwork screen now

in the Mayor s Chapel

ll> -Granary 1869. Portion and Goughl. V.chh Bach

fimio?

Fig. 34: Ponton and Gough s

Granary on Welsh Back, Bristol

1 8 6 9 )

v.

Fig. 35: the chancel after the 1909 restoration

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3.8 The post-war works of stabilisation were necessary

to the building s survival, but are notofsignificance.

The infilling of the chancel and side chapel arcade

detracts

from

the appreciation ofthe church sspatial

qualities

fig. 36). They are intrusive

Importance to ristol

3.9

As

a landmark in the city, the tower with its

characteristic lean is

highly significant

Glimpsed

above the concrete post-war architecture of its

immediate surroundings, it

is

a striking, eccentric

and somewhat incongruous sight

fig. 37 .

3.10 The tower was built on the prosperity of the

merchants of Bristol, principally the Weavers,

whose

bequests to

the

church enabled its

construction from 1441-60. A local explanation

of its lean

was

that it was buil t on wool sacks (rather

than the profits

from

them). TheWeavers Chapel,

possibly founded by royal gift in 1299, is an

important witness to the formal link between the

church and the Weavers Company. The late 14lh

century nave was largely funded by the bequests

ofparishioners, as theTemplegradually passed

from

being a possession of the Hospitallers to one of the

city s most important parish churches. The history

ofchurch mirrors the development of

Bristol

asone

of Britain s most important and populous ports; it

is also closely linked to the

Bristol

philanthropist,

Edward Colston For this reason, the whole church

(not justthe tower)makes a significant contribution

to understanding of the medieval and post-medieval

development of Bristol.

Fig.

36: Looking west. Note

how the support for the chancel

arch

blocks

views down th e

church

The line of th e

chancel

roof

can be

traced

above the

arch

Fig. 37: View from the north

3.11

As

discussed above, the Temple Church is not, despite popular belief, a formal

memorial to the bombing of

Bristol.

Despite

this,

its burnt out shell

is

a reminder

of the damage which Bristol suffered during the Second WorldWar and this is of

some significance

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mport nce to the re

3.12 The Temple Church, with the 1

9,h

century stone screen and

the small

group of grade

listed 1

7th-1 9,h

century buildings to its west are a

fragmentary and highly signific nt

survival

of the historic buildings and

street pattern figs. 30-1 . A rather

different relationship, butalsoa highly

signific nt one, is with the former

churchyard. The two together

continue, as theyalways

have,

to give

an area of open

space

in what is

otherwise a densely built up urban

area fig. 38 . The importance of this

function was recognised by

the

City in 1958

when

t took over the churchyard as

a

public

open space. These

surviving historic

relationships, as well as the tower s

uneasy juxtaposition with

its

newer surroundings, arc epitomised by a series of

key views, which have been plotted on

fig.

40.

Fig. 39: TempleChurch: significance of

surviving material

Fig. 38 Church and churchyard from the south

e a s t

K Y

Highly significant

|

Significant

Neutral

In trus ive


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KEY

Grade Listed

Buildings

Fig

40: The envelope of significant townscape survival and key external views of the

Temple Church

3.13 TheTemple Churchwas,

until

its

destruction, the spiritual focus of the area.

But

it

also had a wider role

in

defining the identity of this area of

Bristol

The special

privileges

given

totheTemplars and Hospitallers, which endured until 1534,enabled

theTemple Fee to function outside thecontrol ofthe city dispensing its own justice

and holding

its

own markets. Its particularrelationship withthe

Weavers

Company,

first attested in 1299, also gave ita rolegreater than simply as a parish church. The

Temple Church s position as the historic

focus

ofthe area

thus highly signific nt

Today that significance has gone; the bombed out church is a vacuum at the heart

ofthe area. However with the regeneration of the area nowgatheringmomentum,

t

has the potential to

regain

something of

its

historic role at the centre of

its

area.

3.14 Figures 39 and 40 show how these levels of significance can be applied to the

fabric of the church and to its surroundings.

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e

FINING TH ISSU S

Introduction

4.1 For

62

years,

the

Temple

Church

has

been

a

bombed

out shell

with no

public

access

cut

off both from

its

churchyard

and

the district

literally its

parish

around

it.

It is

a

vacuum at the historic heart of theTemple area; at the same time,

the decay

of

its fabric continues, gradually

eroding

the asset which makes it

special

and

acting

as a

constant

drain on the resources of

those charged with

its

maintenance.

4.2 The

prime issue is

therefore, whether its current

state is

the

most

appropriate

way

to preserve what is significant

about

the

Scheduled

Ancient Monument and Grade

II

listed

building

that is the Temple Church.

In

considering

this, it

is

right

to

consider

also the

other

possible options

for

its

future.

These

include:

- Ac

demolition

of

all

orpart of the building.

The

most obvious candidate

for

retention is

the

tower

as

a Bristol

landmark;

C

retaining the building

as

it is, but making it publicly accessible probably

as

^

an

extension

to the public park;

making

the

existing

building

weathertight

in practice by putting

a new roof

on and reglazing

the

windows.

construction ofa

new

building within the ruins. This could be self-sufficient

or serve as

an

ancillary

facility,

such

as

a cafe or exhibition space

for

the

public park

4.3 Of these, the

first should be

dismissed

at once,

as it

was by Donald

Insall

in 1954.

As demonstrated

above

the

building s significance

lies in all

the

surviving

fabric,

with the

possible

exception of

the 1909

vestry.

Any demolition

of significant

fabric would be clearly

contrary

to current

policy

on the conservation of the historic

environment. In considering the remaining options a number of

issues

arise

and

must

be

balanced against each other to choose the most suitable.

Conservation priorities

4.4

The

significance

of the

different

components of the

Temple

Church was

identified

above

Fig 39 . The

remains of the original round church and the 15 h century

tower are highly significant; the

remainder of the

Medieval church and

the surviving

18,h century alterations are significant. The

priority

should be their preservation

but, at

the

moment, this historic fabric is very vulnerable

to

gradual

decay

through

the effects of the

weather,

particularly

on

the interiors and wall tops. Even the

most

conservation

sensitive

repairs such as those carried out in 1999-2000 can

do no

more than slow this

process.

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4.5 Although not as historically significant as the Medieval and 18 1 Century fabric,

the church s overall function as reminder of the bombing of

Bristol

has some

significance, which should be retained. This does not need to be achieved by

keeping the church as a complete

ruin;

the

fire

damaged window tracery

is

a

poignant reminderof the heat ofthe blaze thatdestroyedsomuchofthe city. Any

solution

which preserved

themedieval fabric a new

roof

and glazing

is

the

most

obvious way

of

achieving

this

should

not be at the expense ofthewar damage.

New uses

4.6

All

the practical options outlined inpara 4.2 above would allowa new use for the

building,

varying

from

a

public

open space to something

which

occupies an

entirely reroofed and reglazed church.

4.7

In

considering what type and scale of use would be appropriate, the main

prerequisite should be that it does not compromise the

building s

archaeological,

architectural and historic significance. This means that:

in preparing the building for a new use and in its

clay

to day operation, there

should be no unnecessary damage to significant historic fabric;

the new

use

should not

have

such

specific

accommodation requirements as

to compromise the ability of the church to take other uses in the future;

Any

new use preserves the open nature of the church s spaces as much as

possible and make use of its historic entrances.

4.8

It

would be wrong, however, to focus simply on

the constraints. Anew use could havea significant

positive impact if, inter li it generated income

to cover the costsofmaintainingthe historic fabric

to the highest standards. There is a balance to be

struck and it might be that a compromise of the

open nature of the spaces could be accepted

if

it

maximised the efficient use ofwhat is a very large

open

space

4.9 In addition to these practical considerations, there

is

the more general question of what uses would

be appropriate given that there isno demand for a

return to church

use. Any

other use must be Fig. 41:

The

fire damaged

walls

compatible with the

building s

previous use

as

a ancl tracery

church ancl place of burial, it should also be

compatible

with

public access so that the significance of the building can be

appreciated ancl its history presented. A use which allowed the building to

regain a

link

with

its

churchyard as well as some of

its

historic role as the heart of

its

community would be particularly appropriate. Such a use, however, should

not beachieved at the expense of long-term sustainability and incomegeneration.

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4.1

0

Finally,

a new use should not generate too much vehicular traffic, whether visitors

or service, as there

is

limited existing or potential parking

space.

The existing

character of the area immediately around the church is very much a pedestrian

and

traffic-free

environment.

New Building

4.11 The majority of options for the future of the church include some form of new

building.

The importance ofthe church s external envelope,

particularly

ofviews

from the south means that any new building should be restricted to inside the

existing fabric. Given the

lack

of

detailed

knowledge of the work that was

destroyed

in the

War, it would

not be

possible to rebuild in replica though, if the option of

complete reroofing ancl reglazing were selected the general profile and volumes

of

the

previous church could

be

reconstructed

figs. 42

43).

Any

new

building,

on

whatever scale

will

need

to

address various

issues:

imp ct on historic f bric

nd

rch eology

This needs to be

minimizedin linewithgovernment

guidance in PPC15 and 16. In

practice

there is considerable

scope,

for example, tomake fixings

in

areas of wall rebuilt during the

Victor ian ancl Edward ian

restorations ancl to run sub-surface

services

along

the lines of the

Victorian heating conduits ancl

Saunders

excavation

t renches.

flexi ility

of design nd

construction

To a large degree the

type and scale of new construction

will be determined by the intended

use. Nevertheless any newbuilding

should not be tied too closely to that

use;

rather it needs to be designed

to allow a maximum of flexibility

for future adaptation ancl use. This

cou ld mean that structural

additions

are designed to be fully reversible.

Fig. 42:A1 h century photograph of the

Temple Church showing the roof profile and

vestry chimney removed by the 1909

r es to ra t ion

Fig. 43: An interiorviewof the

church.

the

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1

access:Theprincipal historic access to the church was via the west door,

which

is now closed but could be reinstated.

All options

would need to

address the issue

of

level

access.

This

is

particularly problematic

via

the

south

door, which is both narrow and significantly below the level of the

churchyard outside.

Q

treatment of historic

sp ces

the

spatial

quality ofthe medieval church was

given added

importance

by

the

relative

austerity of

its

architectural

r\

ornamentation. Like all churches, the spatial distinction between the

different parts of the

Temple

Church nave/chancelAA/eavers

chapel/St

H

Katherine s

chapel) emphasised their

separate liturgical functions and gave X

the

church its

character. With the removal ofthe

roofs,

partof

this

character ^

has

gone,

though

it

could

be

recreated

with roofs

which

reproduced

the

historic

profile,

and if the 20th

century

chancel arcade

supports

could be

removed

or

made

more permeable.

At

the same

time,

the

resulting

spaces -

most particularly the nave - are very

large

and may

conflict

with the

need

to C

maximise

use

of the

space

and

to

achieve the necessary sustainability. A

balance

needs to be

struck

and

flexibility of design will

be important; any

scheme

which

permanently

subdivides an important space, such as the

nave

would need particularly careful justification.

visu l imp ct on

extern l

views any new w ork , of whatever scale, will need

to be considered in

relation

not justto its effect on the

historic interiors,

but

also on exterior

views most

particularly

from

the south. Thechurch has

been most

frequently

drawn

and

photographed from

the churchyard, while

the higher ground level and large windows enable views intothe nave.

For

this

reason, new works

to

the interior such asmezzanine

floors

in the nave)

will inevitably

be

visible from

the

outside. Their

impact on

exterior

views

will need to be balanced against their role in the

new

use

of

the building

and the flexibility of their design.

Similar considerations will need

to be

applied to new signage

which

is likely

to be necessary.

Indeed

there is a potential conflict between the

requirements

of

a

user

particularly

a

commercial

user

for

signage and the

preservation

ofthe

historic

setting ofthe

building.

A

church,

of

course,

requires no signs to draw attention to its existence.

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rel tionship etween new nd ol the precise relationship between a new

building

within

the

envelope

of theTemple

Church

ancl

the existing remains

will depend on the relative scale of the new work. A small structure

freestanding

within

the

existing

fabric,

for

example,

would

require

very

different solution to the complete reroofing ancl weatherproofing of the

church. n general terms, however,

new work

should

seek to emphasise

rather than

compete

with

the

historic fabric

of

the

Temple

Church. This

s

not just a question of ensuring that key spaces or external views are not

unnecessarily compromised but of a positive use of

design

ancl materials to

draw attention to what s significant whetherMedieval fabric or wartime

damage.

Any reglazing of the

war-damaged

tracery will

require

the most

careful treatment

Among

the

most

significant

elements ofthe

church

-

certainly

n

national

terms - are the archaeological

remains

of the original Templar

round

church.

While

there may be

scope for

revealing

ancl displaying these see below , t

would be

most

appropriate to incorporate some element ofthe plan and

form

of the round church in the design of the

interior,

so as to

recall its

importance.

Linking the Temple Church back into its surroundings

4.12 The preservation of the Temple

Church is important not just in its

own

right,

as a nationally important

Scheduled Ancient Monument and

listed building but also for its more

local role

in

Bristol

ancl its

immediate area. t is currently cut

off both from its churchyard

ancl

from the townscape of its former

parish.

Fig. 44: Interior viewof the south aisle wal

Note the relationship between the south door

and t he w indows

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B A X T E R

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TEMPLE C H U R C H BRISTOL

C O N S E R V A T I O N

P L A N

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.


32/45

4.1 3 The desirability of re-establishing a link with the former churchyard was stressed

in para

4.9 above. The medieval

south

aisle door provides the principal

physical

link between the church ancl the churchyard, though it is narrow ancl at a lower

level

than the

churchyard

figs.

44

46 .

A

new

use

for

the

church,

in

any event,

is

bound to increase the number of people ancl vehicles visiting the building.

Potential parking albeit of

limited

capacity) for the latter exists in the area of

tarmac adjacent

to

the tower, in the ownership

of

the

city.

Although the churchyard

in

general

is currently very

well

maintained, this

area

is

not

fig. 47 . The

9lh

century

railings

are

missing, replaced

by

crude

wire mesh, the

surfacing is

poor

and the area is used for the storage of

rubbish

bins.

4.14 If the potential of

this area, both

as a

setting for

church and as service access/

parking, is

to

be improved, co-operation

with

the

City

Council

will

be necessary.

Ideally,

the

whole site, church

ancl

churchyard, would

be

under single

management, toachieve a good relationship between the church

ancl park.

On a

more

practical

level, it

would ensure

that the planting of the gardens does not

spoil views of

the church,

as

is currently the case

with a fast

growing conifer

which

is rapidly obscuring

views

ofthe south side fig. 48 .

Fig. 45: An Ith century view of the south side. Note the

vestry at the east end of the south chapel.

Fig.

47: The entrance to the public park.

ALAN BAXTER

ASSOCIATES

Fig. 46: The exterior of the south

aisle, showing the relationship

between

th e

small

south

door

and

the ground level outside.

TEMPLE

CHURCH BRISTOL CONSERVAT ION P L N

9

OCTOBER


33/45

4. 15 A l s o

r e l e v a n t

is t h e

c h u r c h s

relationship to the small core of

surviving historic buildings ancl

street pattern to the west. This issue

will

become more significant if the

church s historic access through the

westporch were to be reopened fig.

50 .

These areas Iie outside

the site s

boundaries, but there is no

doubt

tha t the i mm e di at e e n vi ro n m en t

could be very considerably

improved by relatively modest street

improvements.

4.16 The building s relationship with the wider

Temple

area is equally important, but more problematic,

as it

is

the

result

not just of the bombing but of a

much longer historical process of decay and

fragmentation. Havingbeen one of the richer areas

of the medieval

city,

the Temple area declined in

wealth and importance

from

1

lh

century onwards

fig. 1

7 . The

19th century saw increasing incursion

of industry and the disruption of the street pattern

by the cutting ofVictoria Street, linking the centre

toTemple Meads Station.

Post-war

redevelopment

and further road schemes (Temple Way) both

demolished most of the surviving buildings and

largely

destroyed the historic street pattern. The Fig 49:

New

building and

destruction of

the Temple Church was just

one of Qwc^T^ne^^6611

many episodes which deprived the community of

its historic character ancl

focus.

4.17 Considerable redevelopment is now

taking

place

around the church fig. 49) which, as a result, has a

potentially important roleto

play,

the precisenature

of which

will

be dictated by its new use. It

is

important that the relationship of the church to

its

regenerating surroundings is a consideration in the

selection of an appropriate future use.

Fig.

48: This most significant view of the church

is spoiled by a poorly placed conifer.

Fig. 50: The route to the west

porch fromVictoria Street


T E M P L E

C H U R C H

I R I S T OL

C O N S E R V A T I O N P L AN 3

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34/45

Improving understanding of the asset

TheTemplar Church:

4.18

It is

important that the significance

of

the historic building,

and

its

archaeology,

is

presented

as an integral part

of

the building s new use. Although any

new

building

should

seek to

minimise

impact

on historic fabric, there is an opportunity

to improve

understanding, particularly ofthe

Templar Church. If

Saunders trenches

were as

suggested above)

to

be used

for

running services,

their archaeological

re-excavation

would go some

way to

supplement the

meagre excavation

records and

would

improve understanding of the original church and of its relationship

to

the

later

building.

4.19 In a national context, better understanding oftheTemplar Church would

make

a

significant

contribution

to

knowledge

of this rare

form

of

medieval building.

The l ter building

4.20 Over the years, a number of studies of the church s history and archaeology have

been carried out and

specific

aspects

have

been examined

in detail. The information,

however,

remains unpublished and

uncoordinated. There is

a

need

for it and the

various

finds made over the years)

tobe

gathered together

in a

proper archive, and

a definitive account produced.

Developing the church s educational role

4.21

The

church s potential

as

a

teaching

tool

for,

nt r li

the

development

of

Bristol,

the Knights Templar,

Medieval

architecture and the Second

World War is

considerable

but

with

the

exception of

an English Heritage leaflet) entirely unrealised.

The

improved understandingofthe asset

see above)

combined

with

a usewhichallows

public access and presents the site gives an

ideal

opportunity to unlock its

educational

potential.

anaging

the

Temple hurch

4.22

Church

is owned by the

Bristol

Diocesan Board of Finance, but managed by English

Heritage under the

1958

Guardianship

agreement. Guardianship

is

intended to

allow

the

maintenance

of

and

public access to ancient monuments . If

theTemple

church

is

to

remain

in

low-key use

(for

example

as

a

publicly

accessible

open

space) then

guardianship by English

Heritage would probably continue

as an

appropriate form of management. However,

if

any more active and intensive use

were tobe pursued, alternative arrangements might be considered.

The

aim

would

be a proactive approach to the

historic

fabric and to

the

church s historic role in

Bristol

and theTemple area, mixing commercial

and public

interests to

ensure

public accessibility

and

presentation ofthe church s history.

ALAN XTER SSOCI TES TEMPLE CHURCH, BRISTOL CONSERVATION PLAN 31

OCTOBER


35/45

4 23

TheTemple Church is both a

Scheduled

Ancient

Monument

anda listed

building

Scheduling

is

designed to protect archaeological

sites and

ruins;

indeed

dwellings

cannot

be scheduled

takes priority over

listing and

it

requires applications

for l

consent for all works to the monument Listing by contrast is designed for

^

buildings in

use

and

the

need

to obtain

consent is

limited to

works which

affect

the

character of the

building

Continuation of the

existing

dual coverage

may

well

conflict

with thesmooth operation ofa new use in thechurch Onepossibility ?

which

would ensure adequate protection of both subsurface archaeology and the

standing

building

would

be to define

the limits of

the

scheduled ancient

monument

and the listed building so that they do not overlap. ^

4 24 We

understand from

the

Diocesan

Board of

Finance that

the

church

may still be

consecrated. Any RedundancySchemewould need to considerwhether to remove

the

effects

of consecration.

t

m

L N

XTER

&

SSOCI TES

TEMPLE CHURCH BRISTOL *

CONSERVATION

PLAN 32

OC TO ER

V * t

V

c /


36/45

o POLI I S

ntroduction

Having

discussed

the

main conservation issues facing

the

buildings,

this section

outlines the

policies

that are

required

if

those

issues

are to be adequately addressed.

It is essential

to the

future

conservation of theTemple

Church

that these

policies,

regularly

reviewed and amended as necessary, are agreed and adopted

by all

those

involved

in its future

The policies are numbered and appear

in bold

below. Each one

is

followed by a

brief explanation of its purpose.

General policies

1 Any

proposals

for

the

conservation

and

future

development of the

Temple

Church

should

accord

with

national

overnment uidance

on

the

historic environment

and archaeology, andwith

Local

Authority Guidance

for

the

area.

2 The conservation

priority

for those

responsible for

theTemple

Church should

be

the safeguarding of

those

parts which contribute to the building s national

archaeological historical

and

archaeological importance.

Reason

Scheduled

ancient

monuments and

grade

II* listed buildings, like the Temple

Church, are a crucial partofthe nation s heritage.

As

3.6 of

PPG15

states, Grade

I and

II*

identify the outstanding

architectural

and

historic

interest of a

small

proportion about 6 of all listed buildings .

The

owners and managers of the

church have an obligation to

ensure

that

its outstanding

interest

is maintained

and,

ideally,

enhanced. The relative significance of

the

constituent

parts

of the

Temple Church isshown in Fig. 39.

3 English Heritage should review the full range ofoptions for the

future use

ofthe

Temple

Church

and seek to implement

that

which

ensures

that policy 2 is

met.

Reason

It

is

now

more than 60

years

since theTemple

Church

was

destroyed

by

bombing

and the

time

is

ripe to

consider whether

its

current state is in

its best

conservation

interest. Awide variety of future options exist,

from

maintenance of the ruin as

part

of the adjacent

public

park,

through

to

a fully

reroofed and

reglazed building

in

commercial use. The

choice

of option must, however, depend primarily

on the

needs of the historic asset.

ALAN

BAXTER

ASSOCIATES TEMPLE CHURCH, BRISTOL

CONSERVATION

PLAN 33

OCTOBER

2002


37/45

Any new use for the Temple Church should seek to:

minimise damage to significant historic fabric

be flexible in its use of space

preserve asmuch as possible the fundamental division of spaces the open

nature of the building and the historic entrances

be

financially

sustainable and able to contribute significantly

towards

the

maintenance of the building to the standards set in policies 2, 9 and 15

allow public accessand interpretation of the site s history

be appropriate for the building s history asa

place

of worship, assembly

nd buri l

provide a link with the churchyard

make a positive contribution to the Temple

area

not generate more vehicular visitor or service traffic than the area can

reasonably handle

e son

It is

essential that the use can be fitted

into

the requirements of the

building

not

vice vers The principal purpose ofa new use isto assist in the preservation and

appreciation ofthe historic asset and this

may

require balancingthe preservation

of the historic character of the building particularly

its

spaces

with

the need to

generate sufficient income to maintain the fabric

As the historic core of

its

neighbourhood the Temple

Church

has an important

potential contribution to make to its area At the same time viable use of the

church should not be achieved at the expense of the local historic environment

and the tranquillity of the churchyard

This

Conservation Plan

should be formally adopted by English Heritage and

those responsible for the management of the church.

e son

The

Conservation Plan intended

asan

effective long term management

tool to

guide the future use and development of the

Temple Church.

L N B XTER SSOCI TES TEMPLE CHURCH BRISTOL

CONSERVATION

PLAN 34

O TO ER

I )


38/45

Control of change

6

Any

new buildings or

structures within

the

envelope

of the

church

should

seek

to

avoid

unnecessary adverse impact

on

significant historic fabric and

spaces

and

views

from

the outside

be

the minimum compatible with aviable new

use for the

building

not be so

rigid as

to hinder

possible future

uses

respect and make use of the

basic subdivisions

of space and the historic

accesses

to

the church

make

reference

to the

underlying round

church of the

Templars

be able to be dismantled and removed

from

the building without further

damage to the historic fabric

enhance

through

its

design

materials

and

detailing

the

appreciation

of

the

historic fabric

Reason

Flexibility is the

key

to the successful

long-term

reuse of the Temple Church and

it is essential that it is built into both the planning and construction of any new

internal

structures.

Since

the

original round Temple church is

a

highly significant,

but invisible, part

of

the site s

history,

it is important that its memory is preserved

in the structure.

The

impact

of new structures on both the internal spaces

and

particularly or mezzanines) views of

the exterior

is an

important

design

consideration

Evidence

of wartime bomb damage should

remain

visible

e son

Although not

an

official

War

Memorial, it is

right

that the church should

continue

to act

as

a reminder of

the damage

suffered by the city

during

the last war.

Provision of services and the retention of character

8

New services should

be

designed to minimise their

physical

and visual

impact

onthe

historic building

by

making

use of

areas

ofdisturbance and newstructures

to

disguise runs

Reason

Churches

are normally

relatively

free

of intrusive

services.

With careful

design it

should be possible

to

maintain this appearance in any new

structure.

Damage to

significant archaeology and standing

fabric can be

minimised

y

the

careful

use

of areas already disturbed

by

19th and 20th century works and excavations.

L N

B XTER

SSOCI TES TEMPLE CHURCH BRISTOL CONSERVATION PL N 35

OCTOBER


39/45

are

the fabric

Setting

There shouldbe anagreed programme of maintenanceanda provision for

regular

inspection

of

the condition

of

the fabric.

Reason

As

para 7 1 of

PPG15

states Regular maintenance and repair are the key to the

preservation of

historic buildings Modest

expenditure on repairs

keeps

a building

weathertight and routine maintenance [...] can prevent much more expensive

work becoming necessary at a later date. [...]

Regular

inspection is invaluable.

10 The historic envelope of the Temple Church should be retained intact and no

new extens ions should be allowed

Reason

Views ofthe

Temple Church

particularly

from

the former

churchyard

are

highly

significant. Any new extension would adversely affect these.

11 Those responsible for theTemple Church shouldseek to co operatewith

Bristol

City Council to ensure that the management of the churchyard enhances the

setting

of

the church.

Reason

Renewing the

link between the church and

its former

churchyard would

be

a

considerable

benefit

not

least

because of the

potential

parking

and

service

area

at the foot of the tower Co-ordinated management will help to ensure that the

planting ofthe park enhances the setting of the building rather than blocking

t

as

s

currently the case

anagement

12 The management structure for the church should seek to:

ensure the proper curation and long term protection of the historic asset

in line with policy 2

9

allow

public access and the

interpretation and

presentation of the history

of the Temple Church

manage

and control

the

building s

use to

ensure

that it complies with

policy 4

encourage

the

involvement of theCity

and

local

interests

in the long-term

future of the building.

ALAN BAXTER ASSOCIATES TEMPLE CHURCH

BRISTOL

CONSERVATION

PLAN 36

OCTOBER

^


40/45

e son

An appropriate management structure

is

key

to ensuring the long-term future of the

Temple Church.

The

precise structure

will

depend

on part on

the

outcome

of

any

review

of

options

for

future use

of the

church as

described in policy 3.

may

be

that

Guardianship

is not an appropriate mechanism to manage a

more

intensive

use

of

the church. The

involvement of

representatives

of wider

interests

will

allow the

development

of the church to

be

seen

in its

necessary wider context.

13

External

signage

should be the minimum necessary toadvertise the function ofthe

church

t

should

not be directly

attached to

the

historic building

and it

should

avoid adverse impact on

the

setting of

the Scheduled

ncient

Monument

and

listed building

and the

character

of

the

churchyard

Reason

The immediate setting

of

the

listed

building particularly

when

viewed from the

churchyard is precious and could easily be spoiled by

intrusive

signage.

At

the same

time the requirement of the new user of the

church

to advertise their presence

must

be recognised.

14

This Conservation

Plan

should be reviewed at

5 yearly intervals

Reason

The

Conservation Plan is intended

as

an effective long term management tool.

needs

regular

review to

ensure

that

it

continues

to

reflect

the

conservation

priorities

of the

building

particularly if its use is to

be intensified.

15 All

works to the

building whether new development

or

routine maintenance should

be

based

on a thorough understanding of the building should seek to

minimise

adverse

impact on the

significant historic

fabric

of

the building and its

archaeology

and

should

be

carried

out to best

practice

conservation

standards

A

full

record

should be kept of

all

changes

e son

As

the government s adviser

on

the

historic

environment

English

Heritage

has

a

duty

to set the highest standards as an example for

others

to

follow.

16

English

Heritage should implement

a

programme

of

research

to

improve

understanding of theTemple Church and to make publicly

accessible

the results

e son

The

considerable amount

of

existing knowledge

ofthe

history

ofthechurch

particularly

of the round Templar church is

currently scattered incomplete

and

unpublished.

Better understanding would contribute to academic understanding of a highly

significant building

type

aidthe planningof

future works

and

help

in

thepresentation

of the site to the public.

It

could be achieved by the selective re-excavation of

Saunders trenches, by the creation of a co-ordinated archive of information on

and

finds from

the church and by the publication of an account of its

history.

L N XTER

SSOCI TES

TEMPLE

C HUR C H

BRISTOL CONSERV TION

PL N 37

* OCTOBER

U ^


41/45

6 C O N C L U S I O N

6.1 In many respects, theTemple Church is a typical English urban parish church. It

was a

medieval

foundation, gradually enlarged, rebuilt and refurnished by the

generosity of

its

parishioners,

restored

by

the

Victorians, and damaged by wartime

bombing.

Several

features, however,

set

theTemple

Church

apart.

Its

original

foundation

as

a round church

by

the

Knights Templar

is

very

unusual. Its

exceptional

size,

its role in medieval Bristol, its particular

association with

the

Weavers Company

and its leaning

tower

give it a local importance matched

only

by

St Mary Redcliffe.

.

6.2 Of particular relevance to the

Conservation

Plan, how ever, w as an additional

Q

factor. U nlike virtually

all

other

churches damaged

by bombing,

the

Temple 5

Church remains unrepaired, inaccessible

and without

a function. The building

which

was once

at

the

heart

of

its

community

is

now an expensive

vacuum at its

core.

As

English

Heritage has

recognised,

such

a

situation

should

not be

allowed

to

cont inue

6.3

The principal issue for the Conservation Plan

has

thus been

to

identify what

s

most

significant about theTemple

Church and to

establish the

overall

priorities

for

its

conservation. These

can

then act as a yardstick,

against

which the various

options

of the

future

of

the church from incorporating

its ruin into

the public

park to full

reroofing and reglazing)

can be measured

and

the most appropriate

selected.

It is

not

for

this Plan to select

the

most appropriate

option, but it does

describe

the

various issues - of

suitable

uses, public access and interpretation,

and

the

nature

of

any

new

building

-

which

must

be

taken into

account.

The

conservation of the Temple

Church,

moreover,

should not be seen simply

as

an

end in

itself. Its significance, both for Bristol and

its

immediate area,

must play a

role in deciding

its

future and this in turn raises fresh

issues,

of access, of

uses

which allow

it

to

link

back into its

historic surroundings particularly

the

churchyard) and of co-ordinated management.

6.4 Conservation Plans are usually

described

as

being

about managing

change . o

some extent this is true of this plan. At the same time however, it is also about

defining a future for theTemple Church

which

both preserves its

historic

interest

and

allows

itoncemore to play a full and positive role

in

this part of

Bristol.

L N XTER

SSOCI TES

TEMPLE

CHURCH BRISTOL CONSERVATION PLAN 3 8

O C T O B E R 2 2


42/45

PPENDIX

S HEDULED

MONUMENT ND

ST TUTORY LIST DES RIPTIONS

ST597

901-1/42/337

08/01/59

GV

BRISTOL

VICTORIA STREET

East side

Temple Church, remains

II

Formerly known as: Temple Church. Church of che Holy Cross

VICTORIA

STREET,

Also known ao: Holy Cross Church VICTORIA STREET.

Church. cl400 upper stage of tower 1460 gutted cl940. Bath

stone

ashlar

and Pennant rubble with ashlar dressings to an

open shell without roof or glass.

PLAN: aisled

unclereotoreyed

nave chancel

wich

chapels

and

SW

tower.

Perpendicular Gothic

style

with a Somerset type

tower

EXTERIOR: 2 centred arched E window of 5 lights with trefoil

heads

betweenshore clasping buttresses. A low vestry

attached to the NE of 3 bays with 3 light mullion windows and

a parapet and a N door with a mullioned overlight. 3 bay

chancel

has 3 light

windows with

trefoil heads and label

moulds

and buttresses at the

ends.

5 boy nave with 5 light

windows drip mould and crenellated parapet; in second bay

from W is a doorwaywith chamfered reveals the arch breaking

the line of the sill above. Similar S aisle. The W end of the

N aisle has an octagonal stair turret between the N aisle and

the nave and mid Georgian porch to the nave with Corinthian

pilasters to a segmental pediment with a cartouche inside and

an urn on the top; inside is a round arched doorway with an

acanthus

key.

5 stage tower to end of S aisle divided by deep

drips

with

an

internal

stair

turret

in the SE corner: a low plinth with

three W niches with crockened pinnacled hoods beneath a

4 light window

the

hoodmoulds running

into the drip

course;

2 light windows to the second and third

stages

all

blind;

niches with foliate bases flank the third stage N window

triangular buttresses either side ending in attached

pinnacles

at the base of the

belfry

is a band of

triangular

traceried panels; above are paired lights with mullions and

transoms and ornate fretwork separated by slender buttresses

with blind panels

above

the corner buttresses endingin

attached pinnacles; drip with gargoyles and a blocking course;

the

octagonal

stair turret is

slightly expressed

in the

belfry

with blind panelling.

INTERIOR: column bases to a 5 bay

nave

with round responds at

each end; the base of the tower has a vaulted roof entered

through an arch with soffit quatrefoil headed panels.

Memorials: a finely carved memorial on the N wall of the tower

forming an aedicule with a skull at the

base.

HISTORICAL NOTE: The

church suffered bomb

damage in the

Second

World War and is preserved as a gutted shell; it originally

had a fine unclerestoreyed nave. The lower stages of the tower

leant to the W soon after completion and the belfry slightly

corrected the angle; the pinnacles were never built.

Gomme A Jenner M and Little B: Bristol, An

Architectural

History: Bristol: 1979 : 59; The Buildings of England: Pevsner

N: North Somerset and Bristol:

London:

1958 . 409 .

A L AN BAXTER

AS SOC IATES

TEMPLE C HUR C H BRISTOL CONSERVAT ION PL N

OCTOBER


43/45

ST 97

901 1/42/336

08/12/72

BRISTOL

VICTORIA

STREET

North

East

side

Archway and gates to Temple Church

Formerly Listed

as:

VICTORIA

STREET

{North East side

Piers and gates of the Temple Church

GV

Archway Mid C19. Portland stone and wrought iron Gothic

Revival style Screen

with 3

pointed archways separated

by

buttresses with crenellated

turrets

a small gable with a

heraldic shield over the taller middle

arch

stepped

gablets

inscribed THE TEMPLE and HOLY CROSS over the outer

ones;

2 leaf gates with fleur de lys finials.

L N

XTER

SSOCI TES

TEMPLE CHURCH

BRISTOL

CONSERVATION

PL N

OCTOBER

4


44/45

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TEMPLE CHURCH

BRISTOL

CONSERV TION PLAN

OCTOBER

X


45/45

FILE REFERENCE:

AA

70912/1

INSPECTOR S

R PORT

MONUMENT:

Temple Church

PARISH: BRISTOL

DISTRICT:

RISTOL

COUNTY: RISTOL

NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 28841

NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE S): ST59327273

DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT

The monument includes the buried remains of a 12th century oval church over

which is built the 14th century church remains which ate visible today.

The church lie3 in Bristol city centre in a churchyard which is now a

public amenity space.

The earlier church built by the Knights Templar was circular in form

typical

of

churches

of this

order

and based on the

form

of the Dome of the

Rock and the Church of the

Holy Sepulchre

in

Jerusalem. Nothing shows

at

ground level of the original circular church but it3 form influenced

the

development

of the

later church.

Its

foundations were excavated, and

its

plan is now marked out inside the later church. The 14th century church

includes n 18th century porch a nave with a 5-bay hall an aisled chancel of

three

bays a

sanctuary

and a tower. The tower

adjacent

to the

porch

at the

west end of the church was finished in 1460. It is

34.75m

high and

leans

a lm os t 1 .5 m o ut o f t ru e.

The Templars church was built on land outside the city of Bristol

granted

to

the

order

by Robert, EarL of Gloucester,

between 1120 and

1147. It

appears

that the

Bristol Temple

became the

administrative centre

for the

order

in

south west England. Archaeological evidence suggests that the church wa3

altered in the early 13th century. In c.1 3 the chancel was rebuilt and

extended and given a square end. A chapel was built on its north side and

dedicated to St Katherine; this is known as the Weavers Chapel

because

in

1299 it was granted to the Company of weavers in Bristol just before the

suppression of the TempLar3 in 1312. In 1313 the church known as Holy Cross

was transferred to the Knight3 Hospitallers. In the early 14th century more

chapels were built and documents indicate that by 1392 there was a separate

Lady chapel apparently built onto the south side of the nave

projecting

into

the cemetery. From 1396

wills

refer to the

chapel

of St.

Nicholas

which is

recognised as the main chapel south of the chancel balancing St Katherlne s

on the north. The present nave dates from the last quarter of the 14th

century,

and it must

have been

at

this tim e th at t he c ir cul ar nav e

was

demolished The rebuilding of the nave appears to have been complete by the

end of the 14th century and the tower was begun in 1441. In 1540 the

Hospitallers were suppressed by Henry

VIn,

and Holy Cross survived as a

parish church. Four years later it was purchased from the Crown by the City.

The Lady chapel was demolished in the 16th century. The church was refitted in

the 18th century and restorations took place in 1872 1907 and 1911. In

1940 the church was badly damaged by bombing and in 1958 the ruins were taken

i nt o s ta te c ar e.

Excluded from the scheduling are notice boards wooden door3 modern

protective structures and modern brickwork.

on t inued

Documents

Temple Church CMP