Church of the Good Shepherd, Brighton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of the Good Shepherd
50°50′30″N 0°09′29″W / 50.8417°N 0.1580°W / 50.8417; -0.1580
Location	272 Dyke Road, Brighton, Brighton and Hove BN1 2AE
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Churchmanship	High church
Website	www.goodshepherdbrighton.org.uk
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	1920
Dedication	Good Shepherd
Dedicated	23 June 1927
Consecrated	31 May 1922
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II listed
Designated	26 August 1999
Architect(s)	Edward Prioleau Warren
Style	Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	2 July 1921
Completed	1927
Administration
Parish	The Good Shepherd, Preston, Brighton
Deanery	Rural Deanery of Brighton
Archdeaconry	Chichester
Diocese	Chichester
Province	Canterbury

The Church of the Good Shepherd is an Anglican church located in Brighton, England. It sits on Dyke Road, right on the edge of Brighton and Hove. Even though the church building is in Brighton, most of its parish (the area it serves) is actually in Hove. This church was designed by Edward Prioleau Warren in the 1920s. It has a simple Gothic style and is considered an important building. Because of its special design, it has been given Grade II listed status.

The Church's Story: How it Began

Early Days of Preston Village

Long ago, Preston was a small village about 2.4 kilometers north of Brighton's center. It had its own church area, called a parish, until the year 1531. At that time, Preston's parish joined with Hove's parish. Hove was another village nearby. Together, they formed one church area called Hove-cum-Preston.

Parishes Separate and Growth Along Dyke Road

In 1879, the parishes of Preston and Hove became separate again. By then, many homes were being built along Dyke Road. This road was an old main route into Brighton from the north. The border between Brighton and Hove was set along the west side of Dyke Road in 1873. However, this change did not affect the Preston parish.

A New Church for the Community

In 1905, a new vicar named Gerald Henry Moor took charge of the Preston parish. He was known for his cricket skills. He served as vicar for 11 years until he passed away in 1916. His wife, Alice Moor, decided to build a new church to remember him. She wanted it in a part of the parish where there were no other Anglican churches nearby.

Building the Church of the Good Shepherd

Soon after, a temporary church made of iron was built on the east side of Dyke Road. In December 1919, a group was formed to look at plans for a new, permanent church. These plans were drawn by the architect Edward Warren. Alice Moor laid the first stone, called the foundation stone, in 1920. Building work began on July 2, 1921. A local company, Packham, Sons and Palmer, built the church following Warren's design. The Bishop of Chichester, Winfrid Oldfield Burrows, officially opened the building on May 31, 1922.

Expanding the Church Building

The church became its own official parish on October 13, 1922. This new parish was created from parts of the old Preston parish and St Luke's Church parish. About 4,000 people lived in this area. In 1927, the church building was made bigger. The same building company added a chancel (the area around the altar), a vestry (a room for clergy), a Lady chapel (a chapel dedicated to Mary), and an extra section to the main part of the church, called the nave. A square tower was also added to the front of the church. The church was officially dedicated in its new, larger form on June 23, 1927. A new church hall was built in 1936. This replaced the old iron church, which had been used as a hall.

What the Church Looks Like: Architecture

Edward Warren designed the Church of the Good Shepherd in a simple Gothic style. The outside walls are made of mixed brown bricks, with some concrete and stone parts. You can see different types of windows, including tall, narrow lancet windows and wider dormer windows.

Inside the Church

The inside of the church has a wide, low main area called the nave. It has five sections and leads to the chancel. The ceiling is curved like the inside of a wagon. In the southeast corner, there is a Lady chapel. On the northeast side, there is another chapel with a special memorial for those who died in the First World War. The church also has a vestry, a porch, and a tower. The tower holds bells and has a battlemented top, which looks like the top of a castle wall. A small, pointed spire called a flèche sits on top of the tower.

Special Features

At the front of the church, next to the tower, there are five lancet windows set into a pointed arch. Above these windows, there is a statue of the Good Shepherd. The Lady chapel has beautiful stained glass windows. Inside the church, you can also see a reredos, which is a decorated screen behind the altar.

The Church Today: Services and Status

Listed Building Status

The Church of the Good Shepherd was officially recognized as a Grade II listed building by English Heritage on August 26, 1999. This means it is an important historical building that needs to be protected. It is one of many listed buildings in the city of Brighton and Hove.

Services and Community

Today, the church holds three services every Sunday. These include Evensong. On other days of the week, there are usually two or three prayer services or Eucharist services. The church also hosts special Taizé-style services several times a year. These services are known for their simple, meditative music.

Parish Boundaries

The area that the church serves, its parish, is the same as when it was first created in 1922. Its borders are defined by the railway line between Preston Park station and Dyke Road Drive, Highcroft Villas, Dyke Road, Old Shoreham Road, Hove Park, Goldstone Crescent, Woodland Drive, Tredcroft Road, and Tivoli Crescent North.

See also

• Grade II listed buildings in Brighton and Hove: C–D
• List of places of worship in Brighton and Hove