65 years after it closed for worship, Bristol church will reopen with a new evangelistic vision

A Bristol city centre church is to open for worship for the first time in 65 years with a mission to engage young and unchurched people.

St Nicholas church has been leased to Bristol City Council and has been used as a museum and tourist information office.

However, this autumn it will reopen under the leadership of Rev Toby Flint, currently serving at Holy Trinity Brompton in London, home of the Alpha course.

The church will focus on making disciples, growing leaders and engaging younger generations – the diocese's priorities – but it will also partner with other churches and organisations as it gets involved in social action, including looking at ways to tackle homelessness, food poverty and youth unemployment.

Around 60 per cent of people in the city centre are aged between 15 and 29 and the new church's particular focus will be on younger generations.

Rt Revd Dr Lee Rayfield, acting diocesan bishop, said: 'As Bristol becomes younger and more diverse, we want to make an impact on the city.

'We are excited about how St Nicholas will grow the Church and bring about social transformation.

'This is one way in which we will be developing our commitment to making more disciples, engaging younger generations and connecting with our communities in or changing city.'

Flint worked in youth and adult education in London and France before training for ordination in Oxford.

He served his curacy at Holy Trinity Brompton, where he has continued in an associate role for the last six years. He is currently lead pastor with responsibility for Alpha and Sunday services.

He said: 'We're really excited about our move to Bristol, getting to know the city and working out how we can join in with all that is already going on.'

St Nicholas closed after it was damaged by bombing during the Second World War. It has a large altar triptych piece by William Hogarth originally commissioned for St Mary Redcliffe and subsequently bequeathed to the city.

The overall cost of refurbishing the church and funding its local and city-wide work over six years is £3.8m. As part of this, the Diocese of Bristol has been awarded £1.5m of Strategic Development Funding by the Church of England to support the costs across the first four years.