French Protestant Church, Brighton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids L'Eglise Française Réformée |
|
|---|---|
_(3).JPG)
Side view of the former church, with the Metropole Hotel behind
|
|
| 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 | England |
| 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 (L'Eglise Française Réformée) was a special church in the city of Brighton and Hove, England. Until it closed in 2008, it was the only French Protestant church in Britain outside of London. There's another famous French Protestant church in London, built in 1893.
Brighton's church was built earlier, in the 1880s. It's located right in the middle of Brighton, on Queensbury Mews, near the seafront and the Metropole Hotel. It opened in 1887. The church was put up for sale in June 2008 and closed just one month later.
Contents
History of the French Protestant Church
Early Beginnings in Brighton
In 1548, a French-speaking man named Dirick Carver came to Brighton. He was from a town near Liège and was seeking safety. He was a Calvinist, which was a type of Protestant belief.
Carver had been a lay reader, meaning he led religious services. He started Brighton's first brewery, called the Black Lion. He also held Bible reading sessions at his house.
These meetings continued for a few years. However, in 1553, Roman Catholicism became Britain's main religion again. Meetings for Protestants were then banned. Carver was arrested for continuing his meetings. He was put on trial in London and sadly died in 1555.
French Worship Continues
Many English and French fishermen attended Carver's meetings. This started a tradition of French Christian worship in Brighton. In the 1600s and 1700s, this continued in a Presbyterian chapel. Many French-speaking people went to this chapel.
Calvinists, another group of Protestants, met secretly in private homes. Then, in 1858, an official church was formed for the French-speaking community. The first two pastors were French, and so were many members of the church committee.
Building a New Church
A Brighton resident, Mrs. E. Hayes, was very important in bringing the church community together. Services first took place at her house. Later, they moved to different churches and public buildings in Brighton.
In 1887, the pastor helped build a special church for the congregation. A piece of land behind Kings Road was bought for £735. Building materials cost another £800. Money was raised by the church members and other Protestant groups in France. People in Brighton's religious community also helped.
Mrs. Hayes helped organize the fundraising and gave some of her own money. At the church's opening ceremony on July 18, 1887, a speaker named Rev. J. Gregory criticized the fundraising methods. He felt that some of the activities were not suitable for religious work.
Church Opening and Features
A time capsule was placed inside the main foundation stone. It held items related to Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. The Mayor of Brighton laid the stone using a special trowel. The church was officially opened on February 27, 1888.
The church was allowed to hold worship services. It was given the registration number 30558.
Church Design and Style
The church was designed by architect W. G. Gibbins. It was built in a red-brick Gothic style. This style often features pointed arches and detailed stonework.
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 beautiful round window called a rose window, shaped like a quatrefoil (a four-leaf clover design). The roof is made of slate, and there's a small copper spire on top of a square tower.
The Church Today
At the start of the 1900s, about 2,000 French speakers lived in Brighton. Many of them were Protestants. Today, the community is much smaller. However, there used to be a weekly service in French and English on Sundays.
The church building was put up for sale in June 2008. The people in charge decided they could no longer take care of it. Services continued until the church was sold. The very last service was on July 26, 2008.
The church members planned to find a new place to meet in the city. When it closed, people thought the building would not be torn down. Instead, it was expected to be changed into homes or businesses. The time capsule was also planned to be kept safe.
Between 2009 and 2010, the building was indeed changed. The church is now a house. However, the outside of the building and many parts of the inside still look the same.
See also
- List of places of worship in Brighton and Hove
- St Mary the Less, Norwich (L’Église Protestante Française de Norwich)
