St Paul's Church, Bristol

St Paul’s Church stands in Portland Square, a Georgian square in Bristol. Built in the 1790s to a design by Daniel Hague, it was once known as the Wedding Cake Church because of its tiered tower. The tower was meant to hold ten bells, but only four were ever cast by John Rudhall. Three of those bells now hang in other churches across the world. The church’s gates and railings are themselves listed at grade II*. After years of disuse the building closed in 1988, its fabric damaged by rust and leaks. A £2.3 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund paid for repairs and conversion. In 2005 it reopened as Circomedia, a circus school and performance space, while remaining consecrated. The ornate Georgian plaster ceiling and stained glass survive alongside new aerial rigs and a sprung dance floor. Inside, visitors find a wide map of the world marking the three churches that now hold the church’s bells. The pale Maple floor is used for dance classes and shows. Outside, Portland Square’s terraces frame the church’s white stone tower. The building also houses archives of baptisms, marriages and burials from the parish.