Falling filming locations: If Anna's convent is real and how to find Father Hicks' real church
'It's a city I love, so to set it there is joyful'
Falling, Channel 4’s new religious love story, clearly takes place in the south of England – and this is exactly where it was filmed, including another country.
The new series, created by Jack Thorne (Adolescence, Lord of the Flies), revolves around Anna (Keeley Hawes) and David (Paapa Essiedu), a nun and a priest.
After meeting at Anna’s convent – and tucking into her scrambled eggs – it’s clear the pair have a strong connection, but it threatens to unravel both of their lives.
It’s a quaint, poignant drama set firmly in UK’s southern, sunnier south. Fortunately, we know some of Falling’s specific filming locations.
Where was Falling filmed?
Falling was predominantly filmed between Bristol and other locations across Wales.
Wales has always been a go-to country for film and TV production. In fact, it’s the third-largest production hub in the whole of the UK. Its diverse landscape, cities, and towns offer almost anything a project needs.
And, importantly, it costs less to film there, thanks to extensive economic support from Creative Wales and tax reliefs.
For example, ITV’s Believe Me is set in London, but it was largely filmed across Wales, with Cardiff mostly standing in for the capital.
Don't miss a single story! Add us as a Preferred Source in Google for all your television news
Why Bristol was such a ‘joyful’ filming location in Falling
Thorne was born in Bristol, and with Falling, he wanted to spotlight “bits of Bristol that don’t get much attention”.
“I love telling stories about Bristol because it’s where I’m from,” he told Channel 4.
“If the Clifton Suspension Bridge is in it, it’s only in a brief establishing shot. This is much more about the Lockleaze end of Bristol and the people living in and around there.
“It’s a city I love, so to set it there is joyful and we also shot in Wales.”
How to find Anna’s convent
Anna’s convent… isn’t actually a real convent. Instead, these scenes were filmed at the Ewenny Priory, located in Bridgend, Wales.
Founded in 1141 by Maurice de Londres (the noble son of one of the 12 knights of Glamorgan), it was originally conceived as an offshoot of Gloucester’s Benedictine abbey.
According to the Welsh Government’s history hub, its church, presbytery and transepts “are the finest surviving examples of Norman Romanesque architecture in this part of Wales”.
The church, which still serves as the local parish, is regularly used as a wedding venue, with Ewenny Priory’s large gardens (as seen in Falling) making for a scenic reception.
Several shows have been filmed here, too, including A Discovery of Witches, Dope Girls, Casualty, and Young Sherlock.
Falling filming locations: Where is David’s church?
As for David’s St Augustine’s Church, the Falling team chose to film at St German’s Church, located on Metal Street in Cardiff.
Unlike the ancient Ewenny Priory, St German’s is more modern (though still old). It was built in the late 1880s, ordered as a result of the area’s growing population.
Its name is a nod to Germanus of Auxerre, a bold Roman clergyman who famously confronted Goar, an Alans leader.
Other Falling filming locations
As noted above, Falling is filmed across Wales and Bristol – but there are a few other locations worth noting.
Anna and David can be seen strolling through a park. This was filmed at the Golden Valley Playing Fields in Nailsea, Bristol.
Nailsea was a recurring filming location, with Falling filming a scene involving a food bank at its community larder.
Elsewhere, when Anna tries to buy clothes for herself outside of the convent, she’s actually in St David’s Shopping Centre in Cardiff.
And, finally, when Anna, David, and other members of the congregation go to Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier… that’s where they actually were!
Read more: The best movies on Channel 4 you can stream for free
