April 2025

Uncover the hidden past of one of Bristol’s most mysterious medieval sites—the Church of the Holy Cross, and the role it played in the Templar network across Britain and beyond.

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🏰 A Templar Outpost in Redcliffe

Image: The ruins of the old Circular Knights Templar Chapel

Nestled in Bristol’s Redcliffe district lie the ruins of the Church of the Holy Cross, once the stronghold of the Knights Templar in the city. Though largely destroyed during the Bristol Blitz in World War II, the remnants of this sacred site still whisper stories of its powerful past. Excavations on the site have revealed the footings of the original round church, a classic architectural hallmark of the Templars.

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⚔️ Early Beginnings: Circa 1140

Side Note: Robert of Gloucester, a powerful noble and supporter of the Empress Matilda, gifted the land to the Templars—a common practice among the nobility seeking spiritual favor.

Around 1140, the Templars were granted land in Bristol by Robert of Gloucester. They constructed a small residence and a uniquely oval church, approximately 50 feet by 30 feet—similar in form to their Dover church. Over time, the site expanded, and by 1299, records mention a chapel dedicated to St. Katherine, in addition to the church’s small chancel.

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🧭 Preceptory or Satellite?

Image Map of Templar Preceptories in England, highlighting Bristol, Templecombe, and Temple Guiting

There is scholarly debate as to whether Bristol’s site was a fully-fledged Preceptory or administratively linked to larger centers like Templecombe or Temple Guiting. However, given Bristol’s immense strategic importance—second only to London as a port—many believe it operated independently. The city’s bustling maritime activity, including trade, finance, and crusader transport, would have made it a vital hub for the Templar network.

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🌍 A Hub of Templar Activity

Side Note: Templar place names in Bristol today: Temple Gate, Temple Back, Temple Court, Temple Bridge—each marking what may have once been part of the extensive estate.

Templar influence still lingers in the city’s geography. Street names around Redcliffe bear the mark of their presence, possibly outlining the vast scope of their holdings in the area. It’s easy to imagine Templar ships sailing from the Bristol docks, carrying pilgrims, treasure, and sacred missions across Europe and to the Holy Land.

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🌊 Lundy Island: A Mysterious Link

Image:  Aerial view of Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel

Lundy Island, gifted to the Templars around 1154 by Henry II, lies just off the Bristol Channel. While it’s unclear whether the Templars actively used the island, its connection adds to the mystique of their maritime network in the region.

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🏛️ From Templars to Hospitallers

With the suppression of the Knights Templar in 1312, their lands—including the Bristol site—passed to the Knights Hospitaller in 1313. The Church of the Holy Cross became the parish church for the area known as Temple Fee.

Rebuilding work began soon after, transforming the church into a larger rectangular structure. By 1460, the new design was completed—but not without error. Built on unstable marshland, the foundations were miscalculated, causing the west tower to lean dramatically, a feature still visible today.

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🕯️ A Survivor of the Blitz

Image: Interior photo of Bristol Cathedral with chandelier

A remarkable artifact from this church—a medieval chandelier—survived the bombing of WWII. Today, it hangs in Bristol Cathedral, a rare and beautiful link to the city’s Templar and Hospitaller heritage.

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🏚️ Visit Today: A Ruin with Stories to Tell

Side Note: The site is managed by English Heritage and free to explore.

Though now in ruins, the Church of the Holy Cross is open to the public and preserved by English Heritage. It remains a captivating example of the Templar legacy in Britain—a place where myth, faith, and medieval history come together in haunting beauty.

To learn more about the Knights Templar, Knights Hospitaller & The Knights of Lazarus Head over to our main website here

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