Brighton Unitarian Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brighton Unitarian Church |
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| 50°49′26″N 0°8′22″W / 50.82389°N 0.13944°W | |
| Location | New Road, Brighton, Brighton and Hove, East Sussex |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches |
| Website | brightonunitarian.org.uk |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Christ Church |
| Status | Chapel |
| Founded | August 20, 1820 |
| Founder(s) | John Chatfield |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 13 October 1952 |
| Architect(s) | Amon Henry Wilds |
| Style | Greek Revival |
| Completed | 20 August 1820 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 100 |
The Brighton Unitarian Church is a special kind of church called a Unitarian chapel. It is located in Brighton, England. It used to be known as Christ Church.
This church was built in 1820 by a famous local architect named Amon Henry Wilds. The land for the church was sold to the Unitarian community by the Prince Regent. The building has a Greek Revival style, which means it looks like ancient Greek temples.
It stands in an important spot near the Royal Pavilion and the city's main theatres. Since 1952, it has been a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important historical building. The church is part of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches. This is the main group for Unitarians in Britain.
History of the Church
In the late 1700s, Brighton was changing a lot. It was becoming a popular holiday spot, thanks to the Prince Regent. He was a very important person at the time.
The Prince Regent wanted a new road built. This road, now called New Road, was created because the old road was too noisy. It was too close to his home, the Royal Pavilion. So, he asked an architect to build a new road further away. New Road became a walking-only street in 2007.
A group of Baptists had been meeting in Brighton for a long time. But in 1791, some members started to have different ideas. William Stevens introduced new beliefs called Universalist views. This meant they believed God's love was for everyone.
Because of these new ideas, Stevens and 18 others were asked to leave the Baptist group. From 1797, this smaller group started meeting at Stevens' house. By 1806, they moved to a small chapel in Jew Street.
A missionary helped more people learn about Unitarian ideas. With help from John Chatfield, a leader from a nearby Unitarian group, they bought a meeting room. This new place opened in 1812.
When the Prince Regent sold some land, the Unitarian group bought a plot for £650. They wanted to build a new chapel there. John Chatfield also gave £200 to help. Amon Henry Wilds, a new architect in Brighton, designed the building. He followed instructions from Dr. Morell, who became the first minister.
The church opened on August 20, 1820. It was completely full, with 350 people attending. Over the years, the church changed its name a few times. Since the 1940s, it has been known as the Brighton Unitarian Church. Today, it can hold about 100 people. They have a service every Sunday.
The church has been repaired and updated several times. This happened in 1936, 1966, and 2004. The roof also needed fixing after a very big storm in 1987.
What the Church Looks Like
The design of the Brighton Unitarian Church is like an ancient Greek temple. It looks similar to the Temple of Thesæus in Athens, Greece.
The front of the church faces east. It has a special entrance called a tetrastyle portico. This means it has four tall Doric columns. These columns hold up a flat section called an entablature and a triangular roof part called a pediment.
Long ago, there was writing on the pediment. It was in Ancient Greek and quoted a Bible verse. It said, "To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ." But this writing was taken off later in the 1800s. Some people thought it was Hebrew writing and believed the building was a synagogue. This caused confusion, so it was removed.
The church building is made of brick. However, the front part is covered in a smooth plaster called stucco. This makes it look like stone.
The church was officially made a Grade II listed building by English Heritage on October 13, 1952. This means it is an important building that should be protected. It is one of many historic buildings in the city of Brighton and Hove.
See also
- Grade II listed buildings in Brighton and Hove: A–B
- List of places of worship in Brighton and Hove
