Church of the Annunciation, Brighton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of the Annunciation, Brighton |
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| 50°49′45.71″N 0°7′46.54″W / 50.8293639°N 0.1295944°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Modern Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Dedication | The Annunciation |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 20 September 1996 |
| Architect(s) | William Dancy |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 15 August 1864 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | The Annunciation Brighton |
| Deanery | Brighton |
| Archdeaconry | Brighton and Lewes |
| Diocese | Diocese of Chichester |
| Province | Province of Canterbury |
The Church of the Annunciation is an Anglican church located in Brighton, a city in England. It was one of several churches built in the 1860s. These churches were funded by Reverend Arthur Wagner. He was the son of Reverend Henry Michell Wagner, who was the Vicar of Brighton from 1824 to 1870. The Church of the Annunciation served a new area of homes for working families. This area is now known as the Hanover district. The church is a Grade II listed building, which means it is an important historical building.
Contents
History of the Church
Arthur Wagner became a priest in 1850. For the next 20 years, he had a lot of freedom. He could choose where and how new churches in Brighton would be built. Brighton was growing very quickly at that time.
Building the First Church
In 1862, Arthur Wagner paid for a small church to be built. It was in a working-class area called North Laine. Two years later, in 1864, he decided to build another church. This new church was for another area where many working families lived. This area was on high ground between the Old Steine and Queen's Park.
The spot chosen for the church was on Washington Street. It was a narrow piece of land, so there wasn't much room to make the church bigger later. A local architect named William Dancy designed the building. He made it similar to the church Wagner built in 1862. However, he changed the design to fit the small space.
Opening and Expanding the Church
The Church of the Annunciation opened on August 15, 1864. At first, priests from St Paul's Church looked after it. Later, it got its own parish, which is like its own local area. This parish covers most of the Hanover area today.
The church became very popular. By 1881, it needed to be made larger. Because the space was small, it was hard to expand much. But Brighton architect Edmund Scott found a way. He had worked with Wagner on St Bartholomew's Church before. Scott added a new north aisle, which is a side section of the church. It looked similar to the original south aisle. He used wooden columns for support, just like Dancy had done.
The rebuilt church cost £5,000, which Arthur Wagner paid for completely. It was officially opened again in 1884.
Church Traditions and Decorations
Arthur Wagner's churches followed the Anglo-Catholic tradition. This style of worship is also called Ritualist. It often includes more elaborate ceremonies and decorations. Because of this, Wagner sometimes faced opposition from other Protestant groups within the Anglican church.
In 1902, a church court ruled that some of the church's decorations had to be removed. These included icons, candlesticks, and confessional boxes. This happened after someone complained about them. However, between World War I and World War II, the church was decorated again. Two reredos, which are decorated screens behind the altar, were added.
The Church of the Annunciation was officially named a Grade II listed building on September 20, 1996. This means it is protected for its historical importance.
Church Architecture
The main front of the church faces east. It has two pointed roof sections called gables. These gables are decorated with flint stones and red brick around them. The back of the church, on the western side, has three sets of three tall, narrow windows. The middle set of windows is above the main altar. The overall style of the church looks like an older style of English Gothic.
Stained Glass and Other Features
The beautiful Annunciation stained-glass window was designed by Edward Burne-Jones. It was made by a company called Morris & Co. In 1882, the church received another important window. This was the east window from St Nicholas' Church. It had been designed 29 years earlier by architect Richard Cromwell Carpenter. This window was placed in the center of the eastern side when the church was rebuilt by Scott.
A tower was added to the church in 1892 by Scott and another architect, F.T. Cawthorn. A vicarage, which is a house for the vicar, was built next to the church in 1898.
See also
- Grade II listed buildings in Brighton and Hove: C–D
- List of places of worship in Brighton and Hove
