Hounsom Memorial United Reformed Church, Hove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hounsom Memorial Church |
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The church from the northwest
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 Location in Brighton & Hove
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| 50°50′39″N 0°11′33″W / 50.8443°N 0.1925°W | |
| Location | Nevill Avenue, Brighton and Hove BN3 7NG |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | United Reformed Church |
| Previous denomination | Congregational |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 16 March 1938 |
| Founder(s) | Sussex Pioneers |
| Dedicated | 22 October 1939 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | John Leopold Denman |
| Style | Vernacular/Neo-Georgian |
| Groundbreaking | 16 March 1938 |
| Completed | 17 September 1939 |
| Construction cost | £2,700 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 350 |
| Materials | Red and brown brick; tiles |
| Administration | |
| Synod | Southern Synod |
The Hounsom Memorial Church is a United Reformed place of worship in Hove in the English city of Brighton and Hove. It is one of six churches of that Christian group in the city. The church was built in 1938 for the Congregational Church. This church group later became part of the United Reformed Church in 1972.
The church is named after William Allin Hounsom. He was a local man and a long-time member of the Congregational church in central Hove. He had many business interests and owned land across Sussex. The red-brick building was designed by a Brighton architect named John Leopold Denman. It has special carvings that are quite surprising for a Nonconformist church.
Contents
How the Church Started
Hove was once a small village that grew very quickly in the 1800s. It became a popular place to live, especially as nearby Brighton grew. In 1823, some members of the Union Chapel in Brighton started a Sunday school and a temporary place of worship in Hove. This was to help spread their Christian message.
The group of worshippers grew bigger. In 1861, they bought land for a permanent church in an area of Hove called Cliftonville. This new church, called Cliftonville Congregational Church, opened in 1870. It was designed by Horatio Nelson Goulty and was the first Nonconformist church in Hove. Nonconformist churches are Christian churches that are not part of the official Church of England.
William Allin Hounsom's Role
The Cliftonville church became very important in the local area. In 1899, it opened a mission church called Rutland Hall in the Aldrington area of Hove. A major helper for this new church was William Allin Hounsom. He was a long-time member of Cliftonville Congregational Church.
William Hounsom helped raise money and even gave land for the church. He was known as a strong supporter of Congregationalism in Sussex and beyond. He also helped start another Congregational chapel in Horsted Keynes in West Sussex. William Hounsom died in 1934. Meanwhile, Rutland Hall faced difficulties. It was used for wartime purposes during World War I, and many of its male members went to fight.
Building a New Church
Between World War I and World War II, Hove grew very quickly. New houses were built, especially in areas like Hangleton. By 1935, Hangleton was a large suburb.
In the early 1930s, a group called the Sussex Pioneers was formed. They wanted to find places to build new Congregational churches. William Allin Hounsom was part of this group. They saw Hangleton as a perfect place for a new church because it was growing fast and didn't have a Nonconformist church yet.
In 1936, the Sussex Pioneers suggested to Cliftonville Congregational Church that a new church should be built in Hangleton. Both churches, along with the Sussex Congregational Union, started raising money. The Cliftonville Church made the biggest contribution by selling Rutland Hall for £2,000. This money helped pay for the new church.
Choosing a Location and Starting the Church
Several places in Hangleton were considered for the new church. Nevill Avenue was chosen because the building could be set back from the road in a quiet spot. Around this time, Rev. Jason S. Wright became the minister for the new church. Two local people also started a Sunday school in their home. They visited people in their houses to build support for the church.
The name Hounsom Memorial Church was chosen to remember William Allin Hounsom's life and his contributions. The church was officially founded on 16 March 1938. At the ceremony, William Allin Hounsom's cousin, Winifred Pike, and others laid foundation stones.
John Leopold Denman, a local architect known for his Neo-Georgian style, was chosen to design the church. He explained that the church would have small windows high up (called clerestory windows) to let in light. The church was built by Braybon & Son, a local company. It opened for worship on 17 September 1939. The church had 70 members when it opened. It was officially recognized as a Congregational church on 22 October 1939.
Growth and Community
During World War II, the church faced financial challenges. However, with help from grants, it became debt-free by 1947. The church then raised money to build a church hall. This hall was completed in 1951 and was also designed by John Leopold Denman.
Having its own hall helped many church groups grow. These included a Women's Fellowship, the Girls' Brigade (which still exists), the Boys' Brigade, and a Young People's Fellowship. The hall also served as Hangleton's first community centre and library until 1962. The church also started "Dramatic Services" (worship in the form of plays) and showed religious films, which attracted many people.
A Famous Piano Story
The church bought a Kawai grand piano with money left as a gift. In 1990, the famous singer Tony Bennett was going to perform at the Brighton Dome. During his warm-up, he accidentally broke the venue's piano! An employee knew about the Hounsom Memorial Church's piano. It was quickly brought to the Dome, and Tony Bennett was able to perform.
Becoming a United Reformed Church
In 1972, the Hounsom Memorial Church, along with most Congregational and Presbyterian churches in England, became part of the United Reformed Church. It is one of six churches of this group in Brighton and Hove. Other United Reformed Churches in the city include the Central United Reformed Church (formerly Cliftonville Congregational Church) and churches in North Road, Lewes Road, Portslade, and Saltdean.
The church is officially registered for worship and for marriages. In the 1950s, there were ideas to change the church's name to St Christopher's Church. This was because of a carving of Saint Christopher on the front of the building, but the name was never changed.
Church Design
The people who founded the church gave architect John Leopold Denman a clear idea for the design. They wanted a modern building that fit in with the area, not like an old 15th-century church or a cinema. His design combines elements of simple, local building styles (called Vernacular) and his favorite Neo-Georgian style, with some modern touches.
The church can hold 350 people. It has one main open space inside, which is about 36 by 24 feet (11 by 7.3 meters). Light comes in through small clerestory windows high up on the walls. The walls are made of "mottled" red bricks from the Ringmer brickworks in East Sussex. The red roof tiles also came from there.
At the north end of the church is a short tower with a shallow, tiled spire. This tower has three "startling" carvings. These are bas-relief carvings, meaning they stick out from the surface. They show Saint Christopher, a pelican, and a lamb. The pelican and lamb are symbols of sacrifice and the Lamb of God. These kinds of symbolic carvings are unusual for a Nonconformist church.
See also
Images for kids
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Rutland Hall was sold to help pay for the Hounsom Memorial Church.
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Small clerestory windows let light into the church's inside.
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A church hall was built in 1951.
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Saint Christopher is shown in a carving at the top of the tower.
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