Conserving Bristol’s Brutalist cathedral
The modern, Grade II*-listed, Roman Catholic Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Paul was the last major cathedral to be built in Britain.
Designed by Ronald Weeks, E S Jennett and Antoni Poremba of the Percy Thomas Partnership, it was built between 1969 and 1973.
Despite being critically acclaimed for its serenity, simplicity, and modest, ‘theatre-like’ composition within its irregular hexagonal plan, Clifton Cathedral was faced with structural issues since its completion. The building was never fully watertight and despite numerous attempts to resolve the problem, the leakages remained unresolved. 45 years of water ingress caused damage to the internal finishes as well as affecting the unseen structure and services.
Our conviction was for the building to become watertight, and safe and open for use, but also not to lose any of its rigour and quality as a superb exponent of the late brutalist era. The works have been undertaken with the intention to both repair and protect the building, and to magnify and celebrate its original design and detail.
The cathedral, in common with many buildings of its type and era, was built in difficult times. Our aim for the repairs projects was, at all times, to consider what the intent for its design and execution had been in order to remain true to the building’s principles
The work carefully retained the distinctive aesthetic of the brutalist building which includes Russian Redwood course grain board-marking and monolithic aggregate panels. The repair and renovation works have made the cathedral safe, will prevent further deterioration of the fabric, and have ensured the building it is fit for purpose; a place that worshippers and visitors alike can enjoy.
Purcell is proud to be a chapter of the heritage restoration of this iconic place of worship.
Our team addressed repairs to the building’s roof and structure – composed of offset, superimposed hexagons and part-hexagons rising in three layers to a hexagonal, pyramidal cupola above the sanctuary.
Visitor comfort was also improved, with internal improvements of the conditions as well as the renovation and opening up of previously inaccessible areas, such as the gallery over the baptistery and reopening a staircase access. During the restoration, the cathedral remained open and held eight masses a week, alongside baptisms, weddings and funerals.
