Brighton and Hove National Spiritualist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brighton and Hove National Spiritualist Church |
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The church from the southeast
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| 50°49′20″N 0°07′53″W / 50.8223°N 0.1313°W | |
| Location | Edward Street, Carlton Hill, Brighton BN2 0JR |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Spiritualist |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Brighton National Spiritualist Church |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 17 May 1902 |
| Events | 17 May 1965: present church registered 23 November 2019: amalgamated with Brighton and Hove Central Spiritualist Church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Locally listed |
| Designated | 2015 |
| Architect(s) | Bev Pike (Overton & Partners) |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Brutalist |
| Years built | 1964–65 |
| Completed | 1965 |
The Brighton and Hove National Spiritualist Church is a special place of worship in Brighton, England. It's for people who follow Spiritualism. This means they believe in communicating with spirits of people who have passed away. Until 2019, it was called the Brighton National Spiritualist Church.
This church is now one of the biggest Spiritualist churches in England. It became larger after joining with another church in Brighton in November 2019. The church first started in 1902. It has been in different buildings over the years. The building you see today was finished in 1965. It's known for its unique, curved design, which is a style called Brutalist architecture. The local council has even recognized it as an important historic building.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's Story
Starting Small: Early Days
The first Spiritualist church in Brighton officially began on May 17, 1902. A group of worshippers decided to hold weekly services. They met in a rented room and chose their first leader. For many years, they used different rented spaces.
In 1921, the church found a permanent home. They bought an old Baptist chapel. This building was on Mighell Street in the Carlton Hill area of Brighton. It was built in 1878. The Spiritualist group bought it for £1,250. In 1949, it was officially registered as the Brighton National Spiritualist Church. This meant people could hold services and even get married there.
A New Home: Moving to Edward Street
By the 1950s, the area around Carlton Hill was changing. Many old buildings were removed to make way for new roads and developments. The church's building on Mighell Street was bought by the council in 1961. This meant the church needed a new place.
Soon after, in March 1961, the church found a new spot. It was further along Edward Street. Building started in 1964 and finished in 1965. On May 17, 1965, the new Brighton National Spiritualist Church opened. It was also licensed for marriages. Later, in 2014, it was also allowed to hold same-sex marriages.
Joining Forces: Two Churches Become One
On November 23, 2019, something big happened. The Brighton National Spiritualist Church joined with another Spiritualist church. This other church was the Brighton and Hove Central Spiritualist Church. It had been meeting in different places since 1925.
The Brighton and Hove Central Spiritualist Church had its own long history. It met in a hall called the Athenaeum Hall. This hall was also used for many other things. Later, that church moved to other locations. Finally, in 2019, the two churches decided to combine. They became the Brighton and Hove National Spiritualist Church.
Today, the Brighton and Hove National Spiritualist Church is very active. It holds two services every Sunday. There are also other events and demonstrations almost every day. It is connected to the Spiritualists' National Union.
What Does the Church Look Like?
A Unique Design
The church building was designed in 1964 by a company called Overton & Partners. The main architect was Bev Pike. The building is very modern and stands out on Edward Street. It has a unique shape, almost like a figure-of-eight.
The building has two main parts. They are connected by an entrance area. One part is long and shaped like a kidney on the outside. The other part is a smaller, round space for worship. This round space gets light from a special round window on the roof. The longer part also has light coming from square openings in the roof.
The outside of the church has no windows. It's made of concrete blocks laid in a pattern that looks like bricks. Even though it's made of strong concrete, the curved walls make it look softer. The smooth, angled entrance is also a nice contrast. Inside, the worship area has brick walls.
Why It's Special
In 2015, the Brighton and Hove City Council added the church to its Local List of Heritage Assets. This means they think it's an important building. They described it as a "good example of a modern design for a place of worship." They also said it "contributes positively to the streetscene" and that its outside looks mostly the same as when it was built.
See also
