[This guide has been prepared for schoolchildren. If you do have the opportunity to visit the Cathedral, please use this guide to explore the building. Photographs will be added to this material]

1. Welcome to Clifton Cathedral, Bristol. 

2. The Catholic faith in England is very strong and we enjoy complete freedom to discuss our faith, although we don't often talk about it openly and we don't worry about what religion our friends are. In some other countries, though, religion still causes major problems you will have heard about the troubles between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. In fact in England there have in the past been wars between Catholics and Protestants and only 200 years ago it was forbidden for Catholics to worship in public and the building of Catholic churches was against the law. Catholics were then very much in the minority. In 1767 Bristol was the second largest City in England but there were only 500 Catholics in Bristol, and only 10 in Clifton, which was then only a small hamlet. Anyway, if you were a Catholic it was better to keep quiet about it. 

3. Happily times changed and people became more tolerant. Public Catholic worship and the building of Catholic churches was legalised by the Relief Act of 1790, but it was the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829 which was responsible for encouraging the building of conspicuous places of worship. In that year-Bishop Peter Baines was appointed Vicar Apostolic of the Western-District and it was his idea to build a splendid classical church in Bristol. It would have been one of the biggest and grandest churches in England but unfortunately the money ran out and it remained only half built for ten years. Then more money was raised, it was redesigned to make it smaller and less ornate and it was eventually finished in 1848, five years after the completion of St Mary on the Quay. The first Bishop of Clifton was appointed two years-later in 1850. 

4. Although this fine church was the main Catholic church in Bristol for 125 years it was never execrated as a Cathedral. It was known as the Pro-Cathedral and you can still see it today (describe location). It is in rather a poor state but has been given a new lease of life because it is going to be converted into forty apartments., Anyways about forty years ago it needed a lot of repairs and so it was decided instead to build a new Cathedral - and here it is! It stands where a big house called St Vincents Hall used to be. The architects (The Percy Thomas Partnership) spent three years designing it, in close collaboration with the church authorities, and it then took John Laing Construction another three years to build. 

5. When they started work they laid a foundation stone under which they buried a copper tube containing the plans of the building, some current coins, a medal from the Pope, a letter from the Bishop and copies of the day's London Times and Bristol Evening Post. When do you think the tube will be found? The Cathedral was designed to last for 300 years but it will probably be here longer than that. Bristol Cathedral on College Green has been there nearly 1000 years. So this Cathedral was consecrated in 1973 and the Queen and Prince Philip came to see it shortly afterwards. 

6.- You can see that it is a very modern and unusual building. Some people love it and some don't like it at all but it did win several prizes for the design. it is made of very solid white reinforced concrete to keep traffic noise out, the heat in, and to reflect the daylight. As you may have noticed, it has slabs of pink granite from Aberdeen on the outside and the internal shape is that of a hexagon. If you don't know how many sides a hexagon has look down at the floor tiles. The Cathedral is designed so that the whole congregation can see clearly and it can seat 900 people within 15m of the altar. Now let us have a look round. 

7. St Peters, St Paul and West (The Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Paul). originally wood and fibreglass donated by Bristol City Council but had problems and replaced by glass. Coats of Arms of,. Bristol and the Diocese. Explain Diocese (Bristol, Glos. Som. and Wilts). Only Catholic Cathedral in these Counties). 

8. Windows 8000 pieces of 1inch, thick glass from Germany, France and England. Long window is Pentecost and the other Jubilation (explain symbolism). 

9. Holy Oils The wall safes contain holy oils. Middle one for the sick - taken to homes or hospitals. RH one for baptisms and the LH one is the oil of Chrism used for confirmation and the ordination of priests. 

10. Baptistry Explain baptism, confirmation and the Catholic faith as appropriate. The font can be seen by most of the congregation (unlike many churches) and ,baptisms are normally held during a Mass. Doves round the base represent the Spirit of God. Fish in the bowl are Christian symbols. Read the inscription round the rim - taken from the First Letter of St Peter. 

11. Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Seats 65 people. A place for private prayer and the celebration of Mass on weekdays. Tabernacle made of stainless steel contains hosts used as a reserve for the main Mass. Screen donated by monks of Prinknash Abbey. Prisoners of conscience window opposite. 

12. The Structure. Note the pattern left by the wood shuttering. Special redwood from Russia. Look up and see how the structure consists of three supported concentric rings. The balcony is not used except for storage and the occasional solo singer. The main dimensions of the church, measured from the Sanctuary back in three directions are based on a dimension of 
18 inches. This was adopted as the module or regulating dimension for the whole design of the building. As an example, the timber framework into which the concrete was cast had bolt holes positioned at 1.5 times this module. The holes can, of course, be seen and they help to express the overall symmetry of the building. 

13. The Sanctuary. The altar is made from a block of Portland stone. it contains a jewelled casket with holy relics (a piece of bone from Pius X and a piece of the shroud of the English martyr Oliver Plunkett). The Bishop's throne - the Cathedra (Cathedral - seat of the Bishop). The space over the Sanctuary is 90 ft high. Main service is the Mass 5 parts (Welcome, Act of Contrition, Readings from the Bible, Holy Communion and the Blessing). often a choir, particularly at the 11 Am Mass. Magnificent singing. Concerts and several CDs made. The organ was made in Austria - wood is oak and, the pipes polished tin. 

14. Stations of the Cross. Made from a mix of concrete and fibreglass. Wood frame laid on floor, mix poured and the artist had an hour to make the picture, using tools and his hands, before the concrete set. Feel the fibreglass tickle the back of your hand. Name the Stations. Striking and controversial. Decide whether you like them all, some or none. Go round and look at them and gather at: 

15. The lady chapel Bronze statue of Mary. Stainless steel nickel plated candle holder (20 sides - each side 1811 - see Para 12) shape is called an Icosahedron. Made by the monks of Prinknash Abbey. Explain why candles lit and draw attender to Prayer. Three confessionals,, elaborate as appropriate. 

16. Other Points
Mention while going round or when dealing with questions 

a. 12 consecration candles and crosses. A reminder of the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles. Lit only on 30th June - the anniversary of the dedication of the Cathedral. 

b. Heating. originally electric underfloor but too expensive and now gas fired hot air through ducts in wall. 

c. Lighting. Mainly natural. Point out roof lights. 

d. Acoustics. The nave is acoustically tuned to the reverberation time for speech by absorbers suspended from the roof. The roof itself and the walls of the sanctuary have a longer reverberation time to enhance the sound of the organ music. The two bells, which come from the Pro-Cathedral, are in the concrete fleche at the foot of the main cross on the roof and are controlled electrically from the Sacristy. 

e. The overall cost of the Cathedral was about £800,000, cf Liverpool Cathedral at £4,000,000. 

f. A link is planned between the Cathedral and the Presbytery which will include meeting rooms and will have some space in the Presbytery for 
administration and a new music room This will cost about £O.25M.