A Handbook to St Mary Redcliffe Church, J. Chilcott 1848

8 sr. MARY REDCLIFFE CHURCH.
ship employed in this church. But the principal reason
for believing that the building was not finished till the
above date is, that several wills, dated about the year
1380, state that money was left “for the fabric, and
towards repairing the church of Redcliffe ;” and among
others, the will of John Muleward contains a gift in
money “ ad opus Beam Marine dc Radcleve,” which Bar
rett justly regards as a proof that the work was going on
at that time.
In 1445-6 the lofty spire or steeple was struck by
lightning, and one hundred feet of it fell with such a
tremendous force on the body of the church, as nearly
to reduce it to a ruinous heap.
The following extracts, from ancient MS. accounts of
this awful visitation, are recorded by Barrett; one runs
thus 2—“ 1445, at St. Paul’s tide, was very tempestuous
weather, by which Redcliife steeple was owrthrown in a
thunder clap, doing great harm to the church by the fall
thereof; but by the good devotion of Mr. William
Canynge it was re-edified, to his everlasting praise.”
Another MS., though differing in the year, says, “In
1442,” (the year Mr. William Canynge was mayor,) “ this
William Canynge, wyth the helpe of others of the wor
shypfulle towns of Bristol, kept masons and workmenne
to edifie,repayre, cover, and glaze the church of Redcliffe,
which his grandfather had founded in the days of Ed
ward III.” A third MS.—“William Canynge“ re-edified
and enlarged the church of Redcliffe, almost destroyed
“ Here we have a second William Canynge, son of John and grandson of
William, for a founder, which will settle the doubts that have arisen about
his being the sole original founder of this church.