Our Story
Bristol Cathedral Trust, founded in 1989, is an independent charity dedicated to raising funds for the preservation of Bristol Cathedral. For over three decades, the Trust has served as the Cathedral’s primary fundraising body, supporting vital restoration and conservation projects. Since 2024, this responsibility is now shared with Bristol Cathedral, which has recently become a charity in its own right.
The Trust now focuses its efforts on fundraising to support essential projects that maintain the Cathedral’s historic integrity for future generations to visit and enjoy.
Our Impact
Bristol Cathedral Trust’s primary mission is to preserve the Cathedral’s fabric and its historical significance. Through careful management of assets, the Trust provides grants to the Cathedral’s Dean and Chapter, supporting projects that preserve the building’s structure and heritage. Recent successes include raising over £2.2 million for the restoration of the Cathedral’s organ which was originally built in 1685 by Renatus Harris and rebuilt in 1907 by Walker. The Trust also supports educational initiatives and has helped maintain the Cathedral’s renowned choral tradition.
Objectives
Raise funds to maintain and preserve Bristol Cathedral’s fabric for future generations.
Build and sustain an endowment fund through the Fitzhardinge Society to ensure long-term financial stability for the Cathedral building.
Foster engagement with Fitzhardinge Society members through special events within the Cathedral and visits to notable places of interest.
Governance
Bristol Cathedral Trust is an independent Trust which operates under charity law, governed by a board of eight trustees who bring with them valuable and diverse expertise in sectors such as law, finance, media and education. The Trust is committed to transparency, ensuring that funds are used responsibly to protect the Cathedral’s legacy.
Fabric Projects
Bristol Cathedral Trust plays a crucial role in funding and delivering a range of fabric projects and repairs across the historic Cathedral site, preserving this precious building for the long-term. Current and recent projects include:
CURRENT AND RECENT PROJECTS
The Organ
An organ has been housed in the Cathedral since at least the 1300s and the instrument is a cornerstone of the Cathedral’s musical heritage. The current organ was built in 1685 by Renatus Harris and rebuilt by Walkers in 1907, and the last major repair was in 1989. It is considered one of the finest romantic organs in the country. Now undergoing a major restoration project led by expert organ builders Harrison & Harrison, the organ’s original brilliance, which includes 83 stops and 3855 pipes, will be secured thanks to Bristol Cathedral Trust and the Fitzhardinge Society, who together successfully raised over £2.2 million to fund the project.
In 2018, beautiful new glass doors were installed in the Cloister which simultaneously improved draft exclusion, light and accessibility.
“Every time I have walked into Bristol Cathedral over the past 60 years, I have been enthralled, as some aspects of this magnificent building will strike me afresh. It is a spellbinding symphony of space, light and stone. For centuries it has been the living heart of Bristol and an important focus in the whole of the southwest.
Its history is interwoven with that of the city. For nearly 900 years people have come here at times of joy, and at times of sorrow, and have found it a place of peace and of light.
Bristol Cathedral is not as well-known as it deserves to be for its distinctive architecture, its harmonious style and its important place in Bristol’s history and evolution. But, with your help we can change that. Please support Bristol Cathedral Trust and the Fitzhardinge Society, and together we can preserve, protect and nurture the fabric of Bristol Cathedral for this generation, and for a great many generations to come.”
“The Harry Crook Foundation was very proud to support the restoration of the Bristol Cathedral organ. Harry Crook (who was my great uncle, the founder of Kleeneze, and Lord Mayor of Bristol 1956-7) loved Bristol Cathedral and its music and choral tradition.
As a proud Bristolian he supported many charitable causes across Bristol, and he specified that money should be given to ‘maintain the fabric of the Cathedral and the organ’. As a Trustee of the Foundation, together with my brother who was Chair, and with the other trustees, we were delighted in 2016 when the need arose for complete restoration of the organ. The Cathedral Trust embraced this project and I have been warmly welcomed, always felt part of the team and have been regularly updated on the progress of the project.
It has been exciting to share in this, and in particular to see the skilled craftsmanship in the Harrison and Harrison workshop in Durham where every part of the organ is being so painstakingly and lovingly restored. It is wonderful that the completion of this project, which Harry Crook would have been so pleased to support, will mean that the musical heritage and choral tradition in Bristol Cathedral will be upheld for future generations.”
GET IN TOUCH
For further information about the work of Bristol Cathedral Trust, or if you would like to know more about becoming a member of the Fitzhardinge Society, please contact us.
For further information about the work of Bristol Cathedral Trust, or if you would like to know more about becoming a member of the Fitzhardinge Society, please contact us.
