Clifton Cathedral

Clifton Cathedral (the Cathedral Church of SS Peter and Paul) is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the Clifton district of Bristol, and one of England's most striking examples of late Brutalist church architecture. It is the seat of the Diocese of Clifton, which brings together 105 parishes across Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Somerset.

Why visit?

This is not the cathedral most visitors picture. Instead of Gothic spires and pointed arches, you get a raw, geometric concrete building whose interior surprises with light and a sense of gathering around the altar. For anyone interested in twentieth-century architecture, it is a must-see in Bristol.

How did the cathedral come about?

The diocese's cathedral was approved in 1965, after the Second Vatican Council. The commission went to the Percy Thomas Partnership, with Ronald Weeks as lead architect, working alongside F.S. Jennett and Antoni Poremba. It was the first cathedral designed in response to the Council's liturgical emphasis on essentials, with the congregation drawn close to the altar and decoration kept restrained.

Construction ran until 1973 (the start is given as 1969 or 1970), and the cathedral was consecrated on 29 June 1973. Since 2000 it has been listed Grade II*.

What does the building look like?

The interior holds about 1,000 people, seated in a cluster around the high altar. The roof is made of offset, overlapping hexagons and part-hexagons that rise in three layers to a hexagonal, pyramidal cupola above the sanctuary. The concrete was originally board-marked, cast against planks of coarse-grained Russian Redwood, which gave the walls a distinctive grain.

Stained glass and art

The narthex windows by Henry Haig use the dalle de verre technique, with thick pieces of glass set in a matrix. They contain roughly 8,000 pieces of glass and glow with deep colour.

Any problems with the building?

The cathedral was praised for its restraint, but it was never fully watertight. Despite numerous attempts to fix it, the leaks went unresolved. From 2015, Purcell carried out a repair programme that included replacing 86 tons of lead on the roof. The cathedral stayed open throughout, holding eight masses a week as well as baptisms, weddings and funerals.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Clifton Cathedral? In Clifton, a western district of Bristol, England. Its coordinates are about 51.4597 N, 2.6163 W.

Who designed it? Ronald Weeks of the Percy Thomas Partnership, together with F.S. Jennett and Antoni Poremba.

When was it built? Construction finished in 1973, and it was consecrated on 29 June that year.

What style is it? Late Brutalism, with a concrete structure and a plan based on hexagons.

Is it a working church? Yes. It is the cathedral of the Diocese of Clifton and holds regular services, so plan your visit around them.