French Protestant Church, Brighton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids L'Eglise Française Réformée |
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Side view of the former church, with the Metropole Hotel behind
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| 50°49′19″N 0°08′58″W / 50.8220°N 0.1495°W | |
| Location | Queensbury Mews, Brighton, Brighton and Hove, East Sussex BN1 2FE |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Reformed Church of France |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 1858 |
| Dedicated | 1887 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Closed |
| Architect(s) | W.G. Gibbins |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1887 |
| Closed | 2008 |
The French Protestant Church of Brighton (also known as L'Eglise Française Réformée) was once a special place of worship in the English city of Brighton and Hove. It was the only French Protestant church in Britain outside of London.
This church was located in Queensbury Mews, a small street near Brighton seafront. It opened in 1887. The church closed its doors in July 2008 and was later sold.
Contents
History of the French Protestant Church
Early French Protestant Worship in Brighton
In 1548, a French-speaking man named Deryck Carver came to Brighton. He was seeking safety from people who didn't like his Calvinist beliefs. Calvinism is a type of Protestant Christianity.
Deryck Carver was a lay reader, meaning he read the Bible to others. He also started Brighton's first brewery. For a few years, he held Bible reading sessions at his home. However, in 1553, Roman Catholicism became Britain's main religion again under Queen Mary I. Meetings of Protestants were then forbidden.
Carver was arrested for continuing his meetings. He was put to death in 1555 for his beliefs.
Building the Church: A Community Effort
Many English and French fishermen attended Carver's meetings. This started a tradition of French Christian worship in Brighton. In the 1600s and 1700s, French-speaking worshippers met in a Presbyterian chapel.
Later, in 1858, an official church was formed for the French-speaking people. The first two pastors were French. Many church committee members were also French. However, a Brighton resident, Mrs. E. Hayes, was very important. She helped bring the church community together.
Services first took place at Mrs. Hayes's house. Then they moved to different churches and public buildings. In 1887, the pastor led the building of a dedicated church. Land was bought for £735, and building materials cost £800.
Money was raised by the church members and other Protestant groups. Mrs. Hayes helped with fundraising and gave her own money. The church was officially opened on July 18, 1887.
A Special Foundation Stone
A special time capsule was placed inside the main foundation stone. It held items from Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. The Mayor of Brighton laid the stone using a special tool. The church was officially opened for worship on February 27, 1888.
Church Design and Architecture
The church was designed by architect W. G. Gibbins. It was built in a red-brick Gothic style.
The western side of the church has three pairs of tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. The southern side has a pointed-arch entrance door. Above the door is a round window called a rose window, shaped like a quatrefoil (a four-leaf clover). The roof is made of slate. There is also a small copper spire on top of a square tower.
The Church Today
At the beginning of the 1900s, about 2,000 French speakers lived in Brighton. Many of them were Protestants. Today, the French-speaking community is much smaller.
The church building was put up for sale in June 2008. The people in charge decided they could no longer keep it. The last service was held on July 26, 2008. The church members planned to find another place to worship in the city.
Between 2009 and 2010, the church building was changed. It is now a house. However, the outside of the building still looks the same. Many of its original features inside are also still there.
See also
