Christ Church, St Leonards-on-Sea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church |
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The church from the northeast
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| 50°51′14″N 0°33′33″E / 50.8538°N 0.5593°E | |
| Location | London Road/Silchester Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings, East Sussex TN37 6AY |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| Website | www.christchurchstleonards.co.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 1860 (original church); 1873 (present church) |
| Founder(s) | Lady St John |
| Dedicated | 13 May 1875 |
| Consecrated | 20 November 1884 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 14 September 1976 |
| Architect(s) | Arthur Blomfield |
| Style | Early English Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 9 September 1860 (original church); 5 February 1895 (present church, including tower and spire) |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1,000 |
| Other dimensions | Tower height: 119+3⁄4 feet (36.5 m) |
| Number of spires | 1 |
| Spire height | 64+1⁄2 feet (19.7 m) |
| Materials | Sandstone, rock and rubble |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Leonards-on-Sea: Christ Church and St Mary Magdalen |
| Deanery | Hastings |
| Archdiocese | Lewes and Hastings |
| Diocese | Diocese of Chichester |
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Christ Church is an Anglican church in St Leonards-on-Sea, a town in East Sussex, England. It's part of the wider area of Hastings. This church opened in 1860 as the third Anglican church in the town. It was built to serve a growing area and to welcome people who couldn't afford to pay for seats in other churches.
The first church building was replaced by a much larger one built right next to it between 1873 and 1875. Sir Arthur Blomfield, a famous church architect, designed the new building. His simple Gothic Revival style makes the church a well-known landmark on one of St Leonards-on-Sea's main roads. Christ Church is still an active church today. It is known for its strong Anglo-Catholic traditions. Experts have called it Blomfield's "finest achievement in Sussex". It is also seen as a major center for Anglo-Catholic worship in Southern England. The church has special importance and is listed as a Grade II* building by Historic England.
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History of Christ Church
Hastings is an old town, founded in the 8th century. It became an important trading place. By the 1820s, Hastings was a popular holiday spot. A builder named James Burton bought land nearby. He created a new, fancy town called St Leonards-on-Sea. This new town grew quickly and became very popular.
By 1858, St Leonards-on-Sea had two Anglican churches. But these churches charged money for seats. This meant many working-class people and the poor couldn't attend. They had moved to the town to work in shops, homes, and on the railway. The closest church with free seats was several miles away.
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Lady St John (Louisa Boughton) was a kind person who helped the community. She paid for a new church in St Leonards-on-Sea. This church would not charge for seats. Christ Church opened on 9 September 1860. It was built on the site of an old quarry. The stone for the church even came from that quarry! It was an Early English Gothic Revival style building.
Lady St John's son, Rev. Charles Lyndhurst Vaughan, became the first vicar in 1863. He introduced High church Anglo-Catholic traditions. At first, some people didn't like this. But he became very respected in the town. In 1865, he helped start another church, St John the Evangelist's Church. In 1873, he opened church schools.
In the same year, Rev. Vaughan started building a much larger church. The old Christ Church was often too full. He believed a church for 1,000 people was needed. The foundation stone for the new building was laid on 6 November 1873. Construction continued through 1874. The church opened for services on 13 May 1875, even though it wasn't fully finished. A temporary roof was put on. The famous architect Sir Arthur Blomfield designed the church. He designed many churches in the Victorian era.
The new building was officially opened in 1875. But it couldn't be fully "consecrated" until all building debts were paid. By October 1884, all the money was raised. The Bishop of Chichester officially consecrated the church on 20 November 1884.
More parts were added later. A new altar was put in around 1891. The tall tower and spire were built between 1894 and 1895. Some bells and an iron cross were given as gifts to remember people. Later, beautiful stained glass windows were added. A new font (for baptisms) was also installed.
In 1919–20, the church was extended at the west end. A special chapel, called the Chapel of the Holy Souls, was built inside the church in 1921. It was a memorial for those who died in war. More changes were made in 1933 to make the inside look even better.
During World War II, St Leonards-on-Sea was bombed often. Christ Church was only slightly damaged. After the war, some parts of the roof needed urgent repairs. Many important people visited the church to help raise money for these repairs. The rector at the time, Rev. Sir Percy Maryon-Wilson, was the longest-serving rector. He died in 1964. A memorial garden was created for him. A new Christ Church was also opened in Tanzania in 1968 to remember him.
St Mary Magdalene's Church, which was nearby, closed in 1980. Its area was added to Christ Church's parish. The church's official name became "Christ Church and St Mary Magdalen".
Church Design and Features
The first church from 1860 was made of sandstone. Arthur Blomfield's new church is much bigger but still in the same simple Early English Gothic Revival style. It's built mostly from rubble and sandstone.
The church has a long main area called a nave. It has side sections called aisles. There are also transepts (arms of the cross shape) and a chancel (the area around the altar). It has a Lady chapel and other special rooms. Because the land slopes, some rooms like the vestries are below the main church.
It's a very long and tall church, especially inside. The impressive east end faces London Road. It has a large window with five tall, narrow lights. The tower is in the northeast. It has four levels and an octagonal (eight-sided) top part with bells. There are also stone gargoyle carvings. The eight bells were installed in 1894. The tower is about 119+3⁄4 feet (36.5 m) tall. The spire on top adds another 64+1⁄2 feet (19.7 m). With the cross, the total height is about 189 feet (58 m).
Inside, the two chapels are decorated with paintings called frescoes. The Lady Chapel has images of Jesus, Mary, and female saints. The Chapel of the Holy Souls (the war memorial chapel) shows scenes like Abraham meeting Melchizedek. It also has a sculpture of Saint Martin. The main altar area also has frescoes of saints.
The church has many "outstanding" stained glass windows. The large east window shows many figures. These include angels, apostles, saints, and prophets. They are all shown worshipping in a heavenly court.
Christ Church Today
Christ Church was officially listed as a Grade II* building by Historic England on 14 September 1976. This means it's a "particularly important" building. It's one of only 13 Grade II* listed buildings in Hastings. Other churches in St Leonards-on-Sea are also listed, showing their importance.
The church's parish (the area it serves) covers central St Leonards-on-Sea. It includes the area of the former St Mary Magdalene's Church.
Christ Church offers many services each week. They all follow a strong Anglo-Catholic style. There is a daily Mass (a main church service). On Sunday mornings, there are two Masses. They also offer special prayer services. The church is known for its traditional practices.
The original church building from 1860 is now used as a parish hall. It's also used for some school activities. It was updated in 2002.
Christ Church is still one of the most recognizable buildings in St Leonards-on-Sea. London Road, where it stands, has many interesting 19th-century church buildings. The old and new Christ Churches stand together. Higher up the hill, the former St Leonards-on-Sea Congregational Church (which closed in 2008) also stands. This church lost its unique spire in a big storm in 1987.
Images for kids
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The west end was extended in the early 20th century.
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The original church, opened in 1860, stood to the south of the present building.
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English Heritage stated that the building, whose east end stands on the steep London Road, is a "large, complex town church" with an "impressive exterior".
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Christ Church's landmark tower was completed and dedicated in 1895.
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The old and new Christ Churches (foreground and midground respectively) stand alongside their near-contemporary, the former St Leonards-on-Sea Congregational Church (background), closed in 2008.
See also
