Bristol church may become community space, retaining Colston’s remains

Leaders in Bristol, England are considering repurposing All Saints church as a community space and, in doing so, likely will leave the remains of Edward Colston buried there.

Colston, who died in 1721, was a prominent figure in Bristol but also a major participant in the transatlantic slave trade. His statue became the focus of protests in 2020 when demonstrators removed and threw it into the harbor during a Black Lives Matter demonstration.

The Diocese of Bristol has been asking residents for input on the future of All Saints church, which has been closed since 1984. The Very Rev Mandy Ford, the dean of Bristol, stated that church guidance generally discourages disturbing Christian burials unless there are exceptional circumstances. While a complete rebuilding of the church could prompt a relocation of Colston’s remains, current plans assume they will remain in place.

Ford explained that the church aims to act responsibly regarding Colston’s burial site, acknowledging his involvement in a deeply immoral practice. The Rev Anjali Kanagaratnam, leading the community consultation, noted that opinions on the church’s future ranged widely, from wanting no connection to the building to seeking to learn more about its history. Kanagaratnam and Ford both believe the space could become a center for learning and reconciliation, working alongside projects at the University of Bristol and Bristol Old Vic.

A final decision on the church’s fate is still months away.