St Bernadette (R.C.) Whitchurch Bristol

The Roman Catholic church of St Bernadette is a prominent feature on the A37 Wells Road, the principle route into the city from the south. It was built in 1967-68 to the designs of James Leask. It is in plan a 75foot square, the church arranged internally diagonally with the altar in one corner, and the vestibule with gallery over in the opposite corner. The red brick walls are barely 10 feet high but it is the double roofs which give the building its distinctive appearance. These have been described as "double hypebolic paraboloid roofs" and incorporate glazing where the two meet which flood the interior with light. The gable of this windows supports a large cross which illuminates by night.

Inside the font too is of red brick with stainless steel tubing at the corners.

Back to Bristol churches Index

page created 30th October 2005