Church of the Good Shepherd, Brighton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of the Good Shepherd |
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| 50°50′30″N 0°09′29″W / 50.8417°N 0.1580°W | |
| 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 and Hove, England. It stands on Dyke Road, right on the border between these two parts of the city. Even though the church building is technically 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, so it has been given a special "Grade II listed" status.
Contents
History of the Church
How the Church Began
The area where the Church of the Good Shepherd now stands was once part of a larger church district called Preston. In 1905, a new vicar named Gerald Henry Moor took charge of the Preston parish. He was known for his cricket skills when he was younger.
After Vicar Moor passed away in 1916, his wife, Alice, decided to build a new church in his memory. She wanted it in a part of the parish where there wasn't an Anglican church nearby.
Building the Church
First, a temporary iron church was put up on Dyke Road. Then, in December 1919, a group was formed to look at plans for a permanent church. These plans were drawn up by architect Edward Warren.
Alice Moor laid the first stone, called the foundation stone, in 1920. Building work officially started on July 2, 1921. A local company, Packham, Sons and Palmer, built the church following Warren's design. The church was officially opened and blessed by the Bishop of Chichester, Winfrid Oldfield Burrows, on May 31, 1922.
Growing the Church
On October 13, 1922, the Church of the Good Shepherd became its own official parish. This new parish was created from parts of the old Preston parish and another parish called St Luke's. About 4,000 people lived in this new church area.
In 1927, the church building was made bigger. The same builders added more sections to the back of the church, including a chancel (the area around the altar), a vestry (where clergy prepare), and a Lady chapel (a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary). They also added a square tower at the front. The church, in its new, larger form, was officially dedicated on June 23, 1927. Later, in 1936, a new church hall was built to replace the old iron church.
Church Design and Features
Edward Warren designed the Church of the Good Shepherd in a simple Gothic style.
Outside the Church
The outside of the church is built with a mix of brown bricks, along with some concrete and stone details. You can see different types of windows, including tall, narrow ones called lancet windows and wider ones called dormer windows.
At the front of the church, there's a square tower. This tower has bells inside and a decorative top with a battlemented parapet (like the top of a castle wall) and a small spire called a flèche. Below the tower, there are five lancet windows set into a pointed arch. Above these windows, you'll see a statue of the Good Shepherd.
Inside the Church
The inside of the church has a wide, low main area called the nave. The ceiling is curved like the inside of a wagon. There's a Lady chapel in the southeast corner and another chapel in the northeast corner. This second chapel has a special memorial for those who died in the First World War. The church also has a reredos, which is a decorated screen or wall behind the altar. Some of the windows, especially in the Lady chapel, feature beautiful stained glass.
The Church Today
The Church of the Good Shepherd is recognized as an important historical building. It was given "Grade II listed" status by English Heritage on August 26, 1999. This means it's one of many special buildings in Brighton and Hove that are protected because of their architectural importance.
The church is still very active today. It holds three services every Sunday, including Evensong. There are also prayer services or Eucharist services on other days of the week. Sometimes, the church also hosts special Taizé-style services, which are known for their meditative music.
The area that the church serves, its parish, is the same as when it was first set up in 1922. Its boundaries include the railway line near Preston Park station, 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
