Hove Methodist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hove Methodist Church |
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The front of the church viewed from the south
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| 50°49′58″N 0°10′45″W / 50.8328°N 0.1792°W | |
| Location | Portland Road, Hove, Brighton and Hove BN3 5DR |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Methodist Church of Great Britain Wesleyan Methodist (historically) |
| Website | www.hovemethodistchurch.co.uk/ |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Wesleyan Church, Portland Road Methodist Church |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | June 3, 1896 |
| Consecrated | 17 December 1896 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 2 November 1992 |
| Architect(s) | John Wills |
| Style | Romanesque Revival |
| Completed | 1896 |
| Construction cost | £4,700 (£390,000 in 2025) |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 600 |
| Materials | Red brick, stone |
| Administration | |
| Circuit | Brighton and Hove |
| District | South East England |
Hove Methodist Church is a special church in Hove, England. It is one of five Methodist churches still open in the city of Brighton and Hove.
This church was started in the late 1800s by a group of Wesleyan Methodists. It is located on Portland Road, which is a main road in Hove. Over the years, the church has grown. In the 1960s, it was made bigger. Today, it is a place for both worship and many community activities. The building is made of red brick. It is considered important for its architecture and is a Grade II listed building.
Contents
History of Hove Methodist Church
Methodism came to Hove in 1808. At first, there were only 13 members. This small group was part of a larger Methodist area that included Brighton and Lewes. For many years, the members met in people's homes or other buildings.
As the community grew, they decided they needed their own church. In the 1880s, they started looking for land. In 1883, they bought a plot on Portland Road for £400. They put up a temporary iron building there. However, this building had to be taken down in 1892. The church members then shared another Methodist church nearby. They waited until they could build a permanent church.
Designing the Church Building
In 1895, a talented architect named John Wills was chosen to design the new church. He had also designed another church in Hove, the Holland Road Baptist Church, a few years earlier. His plans for Hove Methodist Church were approved in 1896.
The church officially began on June 3, 1896. Twenty members helped by laying stones in the floor or under the windows. The church was officially opened on December 17, 1896. The building cost £4,700 to build, and the community managed to pay off this cost within ten years.
Church Activities and Changes
Early in its history, the church started groups like the Girls' Brigade and Boys' Brigade. These groups helped young people learn and grow. From the 1930s, the church bought more buildings next door. This gave them more space for social events and activities.
A big extension was added in 1965. It cost £25,000 and stretched along St Patrick's Road. In 1992, the front of the church changed. The old double staircase was removed. A new, colorful glass tower was added to the front of the building on Portland Road. In 1932, a new organ was bought for the church. It replaced an older one that had come from St Michael's Church, Brighton.
Many ministers have led the church over the years. Some became well-known beyond Hove. Robert Bond was the first minister from 1896 to 1899. He later became important in the wider Methodist community. Another minister, Ernest Kirtlan, served from 1908. He was known for his loud voice when preaching! He was also an expert in old English literature.
Architecture of Hove Methodist Church
John Wills designed the church in a style called Romanesque Revival. This style often uses round arches and strong, simple shapes, like old Roman buildings. He also added some elements from Gothic style.
The outside of the church is made of red bricks. These bricks came from the Keymer Brick and Tile Works in Burgess Hill. Pale stone from Wiltshire was also used. Above the new glass entrance tower, there is a large round window. This window has twelve spokes, like a wheel. Below it are six tall, narrow windows called lancet windows.
The roof of the church is covered with concrete tiles. Inside, the church is a simple rectangle. There are wooden balconies, called galleries, on three sides. You can reach these galleries by staircases. The roof inside is a special type called a hammerbeam roof. The galleries are held up by strong cast iron columns. A room on the ground floor, below the main church area, was once used as a schoolroom.
Hove Methodist Church Today
Hove Methodist Church was officially recognized as a Grade II listed building on November 2, 1992. This means it is a historically important building that needs to be protected. There are many listed buildings in Brighton and Hove, and this church is one of them.
The church is part of the Brighton and Hove Circuit of Methodist churches. This circuit includes five other churches in the city. These are located in Patcham, near Preston Park, in Hollingbury, in Woodingdean, and the Dorset Gardens Methodist Church in Kemptown. Hove Methodist Church is the only Methodist church still open in Hove itself. Other Methodist churches in Hove and nearby areas have closed over the years.
Today, the church holds services most Sundays. There is also a monthly breakfast meeting and regular prayer services. Throughout the week, the church hosts other social activities and Bible study groups.
See also
- Grade II listed buildings in Brighton and Hove: E–H
- List of places of worship in Brighton and Hove
