Explore the fascinating history and heritage of St James Priory – the oldest building in Bristol still in use today.

Founded in 1129 by Robert of Gloucester it has survived the ravages of time, wars and dilapidation.

In the medieval period St James Priory was home to Benedictine monks. They lived here as a community of brothers, devoting their lives to worshipping God and caring for the poor and the sick. In the Middle Ages the Priory was a major landowner with its properties and influence spreading widely from the north of the town to the eastern approaches and even to the commercial dealings of Bristol. The spiritual needs of the locals were supplied by the priory and the Nave served as the parish church. It was the parishioners who financed the building of the church tower in the 14th century.

The Priory was dissolved during the reign of Henry VIII, and many of its buildings were demolished.
It was closed in 1984 as a redundant C of E church.
In 1993 it was reopened by a small Benedictine monastic group and provided support for homeless people and people with addictions.
In 2003 the St James Priory Project Charity was formed following the dissolution of the monastic group.
The Charity has been responsible for saving theis historic Grade 1 listed building from closure & ruin.
A £3.2 million HLF grant was matched with a £1.2 million fund raised by the Charity to enable a renovation, restoration and development programme from 2009 - 2011 to upgrade and conserve the Priory
Today it is a RC church and is open to the public daily.