Bristol, St Mark The Lord Mayor's Chapel

The Lord Mayor's Chapel is the last remaining building of the Hospital, or charitable institution of St Mark, founded by Sir Maurice de Gaunt (a kinsman of the Berkeleys) and his nephew Robert de Gournay. The Hospital was dissolved when the monasteries were suppressed and the church was later acquired by the Corporation for their own use. The Chapel is unique in being the only church in Britain owned and controlled by a local authority.

The church was built on a north-south line rather than the usual east-west alignment, the main front is referred to as the west front.

Much of the Chapel dates from the founding of the Hospital in 1230, built in the Early English style, but has been regularly updated and refurbished. The south aisle chapel was built in 1270, its south window dating from the early 14th century in the pure Decorated style indicated by the ballflower decoration. The tower dates from 1487 and the eastern part of the church was rebuilt in 1510 and the main west window added in the Perpendicular style. The Poyntz Chapel was built in 1523 in a late Perpendicular style.

The Chapel was restored and the north transept rebuilt in 1889 under the direction of J L Pearson, architect of Truro Cathedral, who at the same time rebuilt the west doorway, returning to a style similar to a previous arrangement of blank tracery arches and installing an internal lobby and access steps.

The church contains effigies of the founders in chainmail, beautiful medieval tombs and painted glass, as well as post-Reformation monuments, together with Baroque iron works by William Edney, the Bristol craftsman, brought from the bombed Temple Church.

Opening Times
Wednesday to Saturday, 10am – 12noon and 1pm – 4pm

Telephone: 0117 929 4350

Service Times

Sunday	11am	Choral Matins
3rd Sunday	11am	Choral Eucharist
5th Sunday	11am	Choral Eucharist
Weekdays		Please see Notice Board in Porch