St Paul's Church, Bristol

St Paul's Church in Bristol is a former parish church that gives its name to the surrounding St Paul's district. Built in the 1790s, it is a Grade I listed building and one of the more distinctive Georgian landmarks in the city, known locally as the "Wedding Cake Church" because of its tiered tower.

What is St Paul's Church?

The church stands on the north-east side of Portland Square, a Georgian square laid out around 1790. Historic England dates the building to 1789–94 and records it in the National Heritage List for England at Grade I, the highest category of protection, reserved for buildings of exceptional interest.

Who designed it?

The architect was Daniel Hague. His design took the place of an earlier proposal by James Allen, who had suggested a church in the Greek style. Hague was also involved in promoting and laying out Portland Square itself. Historic England notes that he claimed to have modelled the tower on the Royal Exchange in London, a claim that rests on his own account.

Why is it called the Wedding Cake Church?

The nickname comes from the tower, which rises in several stacked stages and resembles a tiered cake. The tower was planned to hold a ring of ten bells, but only four were ever bought. For visitors walking through the area, the tower is the feature that stands out most against the surrounding streets.

What happened after construction?

Hague went bankrupt in 1793, a year before the church was completed, and many of the buildings around the square had to wait until 1815 to be finished. The church served its congregation for almost two centuries, but over time it fell into disuse and disrepair. It closed in 1988 and is now described as a redundant church.

What is it used for today?

After its closure the building was converted, reportedly in 2005, to become the home of Circomedia, a circus and physical theatre school. That gives the former church a new life as a working cultural venue while its historic exterior remains in place.

Can you visit?

The building is best admired from Portland Square, where you can see the full height of the tower and the Georgian proportions of the facade. Because the building is now used by an arts school, it is worth checking Circomedia's schedule if you hope to see inside, for example at a performance or an open event.

Frequently asked questions

When was St Paul's Church built? Between 1789 and 1794, according to Historic England.

Is St Paul's Church listed? Yes. It is a Grade I listed building.

Who was the architect? Daniel Hague, who also took part in the creation of Portland Square.

Why is it called the Wedding Cake Church? Because of its multi-tiered tower, which resembles a wedding cake.

Is it still a church? No. It was closed in 1988 and later became the home of the Circomedia circus school.

How many bells does the tower have? The tower was designed for ten bells, but only four were bought.

Does the church give its name to an area? Yes. The surrounding St Paul's area of Bristol is named after it.