All Saints Church Likely to Remain Edward Colston’s Resting Place While Its Future Use Is Debated

The Very Rev Mandy Ford, dean of Bristol, indicated that the bones of 18th-century merchant Edward Colston are expected to stay interred in All Saints church on Corn Street. The diocese is consulting residents about converting the disused building—closed since 1984—into a community resource that would address Bristol’s historic links to the trans-Atlantic slave trade. No final decision has been made, but the presumption is that the remains will not be moved unless “exceptional circumstances” arise.

The Guardian

Edward Colston, who died in 1721, was celebrated in Bristol for his philanthropy but also profited from the slave trade. His statue was toppled and thrown into the harbour during a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020, prompting a broader re-examination of his legacy. Subsequent actions included the removal of commemorative windows from two churches and the renaming of the city’s former “Colston Hall” to “Bristol Beacon.” All Saints, situated on one of the city’s busiest streets, has remained unused for decades, making it a focal point for discussions about how the city confronts its past.

The Guardian

The Rev Anjali Kanagaratnam, who is leading the All Saints consultation, reported a wide spectrum of public opinion, from strong opposition to enthusiasm for a new community space. She stressed the importance of hearing voices from those affected by trans-Atlantic slavery as well as residents from other Bristol neighborhoods, describing the project’s potential for “truth-telling.”

The Guardian

• “There is very, very clear guidance which assumes that you don’t disturb remains that have been given Christian burial, except in exceptional circumstances and so the presumption is that they will stay where they are.” — Very Rev Mandy Ford

The Guardian

• “I think one can see it as part of a much bigger picture, which I think is really important if Bristol’s going to have a peaceful and flourishing future as a civic space and as a city.” — Bristol Old Vic. Ford

The Guardian

• “Each extreme was covered from: ‘I never want to come back into this building’ to ‘Why haven’t I been told that this building is here? I need to bring my children.’ Some people find it a hard space to be in. Some were annoyed by the fact that they didn’t know it was there.” — The Rev Anjali Kanagaratnam

The Guardian