Temple Church and Gardens, Bristol

Immersed in history, Bristol’s 12th century Temple Church has played a significant role in the story of the city, its fortunes waxing and diminishing over the centuries. The church visible today with its distinctive leaning tower, was built in the 15th Century making it the second largest in the city but was bombed in the Second World War during the Bristol Blitz of 1940 and remains a living memorial. Currently closed to the public due to safety concerns, Temple Church is in the top 20 worst condition buildings belonging to English Heritage. The site came alive briefly for Sanctum with the artist Theaster Gates for Bristol Green Capital in 2015, offering a glimmer of possibility for the future. From this, we hope that through the use of adaptive reuse of the Temple church and Gardens that we can preserve the heritage this structure holds.