Trinity Centre

The Trinity Centre stands in Bristol’s Easton district, a former Grade II* listed church built in the 1830s. Designed by Thomas Rickman and Henry Hutchinson in the Perpendicular Gothic style, it uses Bath stone with tall vertical lines and a strong linear design. The building once held 2,200 seats, many free, and formed part of the ‘Million Act’ churches funded after the Napoleonic Wars. Its two octagonal bell towers flank the main entrance, though the original bells were replaced in 1927 by local firm Llewellins & James. The centre now hosts live music, arts events and community activities managed by Trinity Community Arts. The charity preserves the building’s cultural role, offering space for Black creatives and events like the Bristol Harbour Festival. After a 2018 appeal to save the venue, Historic England funded structural repairs, while later works added recording studios, a lift and a new reception. The charity continues the church’s tradition as a hub for diverse programmes. Inside, visitors find a large hall with high ceilings and Gothic detailing, alongside modern additions like studios and a welcoming reception area. The former graveyard, once used for stacked burials, now lies empty after exhumations in the 1970s. Nearby, a marble memorial to PC Richard Hill remembers the 1869 murder that shocked the city. The building’s history remains visible in its architecture and artefacts, linking past struggles with today’s creative life.