Church of St John the Baptist, Bristol, Medieval church in Bristol, England
Church of St John the Baptist is a medieval church in Bristol built directly into the city walls, with its tower rising above St John's Gate. The building contains a vaulted underground crypt, hand-carved oak nave benches dating from the 1600s, and a 15th-century stone pulpit.
Walter Frampton, a three-time mayor of Bristol, founded this church in 1350, and his ornate tomb still stands in the chancel. The building arose during an era when Bristol was growing as a major port and wealthy citizens commissioned grand religious structures.
The church displays monuments to merchants and citizens who shaped Bristol's prosperity over centuries. These memorials throughout the building tell the story of the people who built the city's wealth and power.
Access to the church is arranged through volunteer-led tours on selected weekdays. The building can be reserved for events and special occasions, which allows different spaces within it to serve various purposes.
A medieval water pipe system brought down from Brandon Hill in 1374 still flows through a fountain inside the church today. Local tradition recalls that this fountain once dispensed wine during elections, a method of celebrating civic participation with refreshment.
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