List of places of worship in the Borough of Eastleigh facts for kids

The Borough of Eastleigh in Hampshire, England, is home to nearly 70 places where people have worshipped, both now and in the past. About 55 of these buildings are still used as churches, chapels, or halls by different Christian groups. Another 13 buildings used to be religious places but are now used for other things. Eastleigh is one of 13 local areas in Hampshire, a large county in southern England. The borough is mostly towns and suburbs, located between the big cities of Southampton and Portsmouth. The main town is also called Eastleigh.

Many towns and villages in the Eastleigh area are very old, even mentioned in the Domesday Book from 1086. Some churches here can be traced back to that time. For example, a French-owned alien priory (a small monastery) in Hamble-le-Rice once controlled three of the oldest churches. These churches are still standing today, though they've been changed over time. However, older chapels in Bishopstoke and North Stoneham have been replaced by newer buildings. From Botley's medieval church, only the chancel (the part of the church where the altar is) remains, as a new church took its place in the 1830s.

Most of the places of worship in Eastleigh were built in the 1800s and 1900s. The Victorian era (1837-1901) was a busy time for church building in Hampshire, especially around Eastleigh. The town of Eastleigh grew very quickly after a railway junction was built in 1841. This growth encouraged the Church of England, the Roman Catholic Church, and various Nonconformist groups (Protestant churches not part of the Church of England) to build churches and chapels for all the new people moving into the area. Population growth continues today, and many new places of worship opened in the 20th century. These include churches and meeting halls for smaller groups like Spiritualists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Plymouth Brethren.

The 2011 United Kingdom census showed that most people in Eastleigh were Christian. There are no places of worship in the borough for other major faiths. The Church of England, which is the official church of the country, has the most church buildings. However, many other Christian groups are also present. A Roman Catholic mission started in Eastleigh town in 1885. Several Baptist chapels opened in the late 1800s. Methodism was very strong locally, with 11 chapels in use by 1940. The Congregational Church and The Salvation Army have also been in the area since the 1800s. Since the 1960s, the group now known as the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church has also set up several meeting rooms.

Historic England has given "listed status" to nine current and three former places of worship in Eastleigh. A "listed" building is placed on a special list because it has "special architectural or historic interest." This means it's important for its design or history. There are three levels of listed status:

• Grade I: Buildings of "exceptional interest," sometimes seen as important worldwide.
• Grade II*: Buildings that are "particularly important" and more than just special.
• Grade II: Buildings of "special interest" that are important nationally.

Eastleigh's Location and Communities

The borough is located in central southern Hampshire.

The Borough of Eastleigh covers about 30.8 square miles (79.8 square kilometers) in central southern Hampshire. It's close to the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth. Southampton Water, a tidal river mouth, forms the southern edge of the borough. The area is mostly urban and suburban, with an estimated population of nearly 130,000 people as of mid-2016.

The main towns are Eastleigh, Chandler's Ford, and Hedge End. Most people live in these towns or in the villages of Bishopstoke, Botley, Bursledon, Fair Oak, Hamble-le-Rice, Horton Heath, Netley, and West End. The borough is long from north to south and narrow. Its southern part, bordered by the River Hamble to the east, has a coastline on Southampton Water.

A Look at Eastleigh's Old Churches

Hound's tiny 13th-century parish church is set in a large churchyard.

The first Christian churches in this area were built during the Saxon era. However, no parts of the original 10th-century chapels at North Stoneham or Bishopstoke remain today. These were mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, along with the church at Botley. But the old churches at Hamble-le-Rice, Hound, and Bursledon were not mentioned in that survey.

St Andrew's Church at Hamble was first recorded in 1128. It was an "alien priory," meaning it was controlled by a French monastery called Tiron Abbey. This explains its unusual size: its chancel (the area around the altar) and nave (the main part of the church where people sit) were like two separate churches joined together. They served the monastery and local people. This priory also owned St Mary's Church at Hound, which is a small 13th-century church, and St Leonard's Church at Bursledon, built in the late 1100s but changed a lot over time. St Nicholas' Church at North Stoneham is also medieval, with some parts from around 1230, but it has changed a lot too.

New Churches in the Victorian Era and Beyond

The Catholic church in Hedge End replaced an earlier building in 1975.

In the 1800s, especially during the Victorian era, many new churches were built for Anglicans (Church of England members) in the villages. The old church south of Botley village was replaced by a new one in the village center in 1836. Bishopstoke's original church was replaced in 1825, but a new, larger church was built on a different site in 1889–91. Hound's small church is still used, but a bigger one was built closer to the center of Netley in 1885–86.

The town of Eastleigh grew very quickly between 1860 and 1900, from nothing to over 7,000 people. This led to a period of fast church building by the Church of England. The Church of the Resurrection (which closed in 1978) near Eastleigh railway station started in 1868 and became the town's main church in 1905. All Saints Church has served the south side of town since 1908 and is now the main church. As suburbs continued to grow in the second half of the 20th century, places like Chandler's Ford, Bishopstoke, Hedge End, and Bursledon all got new Anglican churches.

Roman Catholics in the area were first served by a mission chapel in Eastleigh town in 1882. The first stone of the current Holy Cross Church was laid in 1901. A Catholic church was built at Chandler's Ford in 1938 and made much bigger later. Both are now part of a larger parish that includes the church at Fair Oak, which opened in 1978. In the south of the borough, a church was built at Netley in 1949. Catholic churches in Hedge End and West End were started by Father Dennis Walshe after World War II.

The United Methodist chapel in Eastleigh closed in 1959 and is now a Masonic hall.

The Methodist Church of Great Britain had 11 chapels within the Eastleigh area by 1940. These represented different types of Methodism. Today, only one of these buildings is still used by a Methodist group. Four others are used for non-religious purposes, and the rest have been torn down. Hedge End Methodist Church, built in 1924, is still in use. In Eastleigh, the Wesleyan church built in 1893 was replaced by a new church (St Andrew's) in the early 1980s.

The United Reformed Church (formed from the joining of the Congregational Church and the Presbyterian Church in 1972) has churches in Chandler's Ford and Hedge End. These were originally Congregational churches. Eastleigh has a modern Salvation Army building, but their original hall from 1887 on the High Street is now the town's museum. A large new Salvation Army community center and church opened in Hedge End in 2014.

Brethren groups started in Eastleigh in the 1880s. Their first meeting hall was built on the High Street in 1887. Another was registered in 1908. The meeting room at The Crescent dates from 1967 and is now part of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. Since 1989, the main meeting hall for this group has been on Chestnut Avenue in Eastleigh. There are also smaller meeting rooms in Hedge End, West End, Chandler's Ford, and Allbrook.

Religious Beliefs in Eastleigh

The 2011 United Kingdom census showed that out of 125,199 people living in Eastleigh:

• 61.89% said they were Christian.
• 0.78% were Muslim.
• 0.68% were Sikh.
• 0.66% were Hindu.
• 0.28% were Buddhist.
• 0.07% were Jewish.
• 0.4% followed another religion.
• 28.47% said they had no religion.
• 6.77% did not state their religion.

The number of Christians and people with no religion was higher in Eastleigh than in England as a whole. Other religions like Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism had fewer followers in Eastleigh compared to the rest of the country.

How Churches Are Organized

Anglican Churches

Almost all Anglican (Church of England) churches in the borough are part of the Anglican Diocese of Winchester. This diocese is based at Winchester Cathedral. The Eastleigh Deanery (a local church area) looks after churches in Bishopstoke, Boyatt Wood, Bursledon, Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh town, Fair Oak, Hamble, Hedge End, Hound, and West End. St Nicolas Church at North Stoneham is part of the Southampton Deanery. All Saints Church at Botley is part of the Anglican Diocese of Portsmouth.

Roman Catholic Churches

The Catholic churches in Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh town, Fair Oak, Hedge End, Netley, and West End are part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth. St Edward the Confessor's Church at Chandler's Ford, Holy Cross Church in Eastleigh, and St Swithun Wells Church at Fair Oak are three of six churches in the St Swithun Wells parish. The churches of Our Lady of the Assumption at Hedge End and St Brigid at West End are in the Hedge End parish. The parish of Netley, with the Church of the Annunciation, is in the same area.

Other Denominations

Three of Eastleigh's four Methodist churches (in Bishopstoke, Chandler's Ford, and Eastleigh) are part of the Winchester, Eastleigh & Romsey Methodist Circuit. Hedge End Methodist Church is in the Southampton Methodist Circuit. Eastleigh and Horton Heath Baptist Churches and West End Free Church belong to the Southern Counties Baptist Association. Emmanuel Baptist Church in Eastleigh is part of the Old Baptist Union, a small group of Baptist churches. Allbrook Evangelical Free Church and Hedge End Strict Baptist Chapel are part of GraceNet UK, a group of Reformed Evangelical Christian churches. Bishopstoke Evangelical Church belongs to two Evangelical groups: the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) and Affinity. Eastleigh Spiritualist Church belongs to the Spiritualists' National Union.

Current Places of Worship

Current places of worship

Name	Image	Location	Denomination/ Affiliation	Grade	Notes	Refs
Allbrook Evangelical Free Church	Allbrook Evangelical Free Church	Allbrook	Evangelical	–	This church is also known as the Church on the Hill. It started as a mission chapel in 1886. It was registered for worship in January 1987.
Brethren Meeting Room	Brethren Meeting Room, Allbrook	Allbrook	Plymouth Brethren Christian Church	–	This building used to be a private school. It was changed into a meeting room for the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church in November 2014.
St Mary's Church	St Mary's Church, Bishopstoke	Bishopstoke	Anglican	II	This is the fourth church for Bishopstoke. It was built in 1890–91 for £4,200. A tower was added in 1909.
St Paul's Church	St Paul's Church, Bishopstoke	Bishopstoke	Anglican	–	This church was built in 1962 to provide more space for the growing village of Bishopstoke.
Bishopstoke Evangelical Church	Bishopstoke Evangelical Church	Bishopstoke	Evangelical	–	This church was registered as Bishopstoke Independent Evangelical Church in April 1955.
Bishopstoke Methodist Church	Bishopstoke Methodist Church	Bishopstoke	Methodist	–	The current church was built in 1957. Methodists have worshipped in Bishopstoke since the mid-1800s.
All Saints Church	All Saints Church, Botley	Botley	Anglican	II	This church replaced an older one in 1836. It was designed in the Gothic Revival style. The narthex (entrance area) was replaced in 2008.
St Peter's Church	St Peter's Church, Boyatt Wood	Boyatt Wood	Anglican	–	Boyatt Wood was a housing estate built after the war. St Peter's Church was opened on April 12, 1991.
St Leonard's Church	St Leonard's Church, Bursledon	Bursledon	Anglican	II*	This church was founded in the mid-1100s. It was changed a lot in the 1830s, but many original features were restored in 1888.
St Paul's Church	St Paul's Church, Bursledon	Bursledon	Anglican	–	A new, larger brick church and community center opened here in June 2000.
St Boniface's Church	St Boniface's Church, Chandler's Ford	Chandler's Ford	Anglican	–	The first Anglican church in Chandler's Ford was a small tin tabernacle (a church made of corrugated iron) in 1881. This permanent church was built in 1904.
Velmore Church	Velmore Church, Chandler's Ford	Chandler's Ford	Evangelical	–	This church was built on the Velmore Estate after the war and was registered in January 1968.
Chandler's Ford Methodist Church	Chandler's Ford Methodist Church	Chandler's Ford	Methodist	–	This church was built in 1969, replacing an older, smaller chapel. It closed for repairs between 1977 and 1980.
Brethren Meeting Room	Brethren Meeting Room, Kings Road, Chandler's Ford	Chandler's Ford	Plymouth Brethren Christian Church	–	This bungalow was given permission to be changed into a Brethren meeting room in June 1999.
Brethren Meeting Room	Brethren Meeting Room, Merdon Avenue, Chandler's Ford	Chandler's Ford	Plymouth Brethren Christian Church	–	Permission to build this meeting room was given in June 1990. It was registered for worship in November 1991.
St Edward the Confessor's Church	St Edward the Confessor's Church, Chandler's Ford	Chandler's Ford	Roman Catholic	–	This church was built in 1938. It has flint walls and a unique corner tower. A large extension was added in 1989.
All Saints Church	All Saints Church, Eastleigh	Eastleigh	Anglican	–	This large stone church was built in 1908–10. It became the main parish church in 1981 after another church closed.
St Francis' Church	St Francis' Church, Eastleigh	Eastleigh	Anglican	–	This building in west Eastleigh is both a church and a church hall.
Eastleigh Baptist Church	Eastleigh Baptist Church	Eastleigh	Baptist	–	This church was registered in June 1905. It was designed in an "old-fashioned Gothic Revival" style.
Emmanuel Baptist Church	Emmanuel Baptist Church, Eastleigh	Eastleigh	Baptist (Old Baptist Union)	–	This building was originally a Congregational mission hall. It was taken over by Baptists in 1943.
Elim Pentecostal Church	Elim Pentecostal Church, Eastleigh	Eastleigh	Elim Pentecostal	–	This church opened in 1967, replacing an older Elim Pentecostal church in the town.
Kingdom Hall	Kingdom Hall, Eastleigh	Eastleigh	Jehovah's Witnesses	–	This Kingdom Hall for Jehovah's Witnesses opened in Eastleigh in 1985.
St Andrew's Methodist Church	St Andrew's Methodist Church, Eastleigh	Eastleigh	Methodist	–	This new church opened in 1983. It replaced a 90-year-old Wesleyan chapel that was torn down.
Junction Church	Junction Church, Eastleigh	Eastleigh	Non-denominational	–	This church meets in an office building on Eastleigh High Street. It was registered in October 2017.
Thrive Church (Pavilion on the Park)	Thrive Church (Pavilion on the Park)	Eastleigh	Non-denominational (Pioneer)	–	Started in 1985 as Eastleigh Christian Fellowship, this church is now called Thrive Church and meets at the Pavilion on the Park.
Brethren Meeting Room	Brethren Meeting Room, Chestnut Avenue, Eastleigh	Eastleigh	Plymouth Brethren Christian Church	–	This is the main meeting room for the Southampton and Eastleigh area. It moved here in 1989.
Brethren Meeting Room	Brethren Meeting Room, The Crescent, Eastleigh	Eastleigh	Plymouth Brethren Christian Church	–	This local Brethren meeting room was registered in May 1967.
Holy Cross Church	Holy Cross Church, Eastleigh	Eastleigh	Roman Catholic	–	This church was built in 1901 and consecrated in 1902. It is a tall building made of red brick and limestone.
Salvation Army Citadel	Salvation Army Citadel, Eastleigh	Eastleigh	Salvation Army	–	This Salvation Army place of worship was registered in June 1991. It replaced a smaller building.
Eastleigh Spiritualist Church	Eastleigh Spiritualist Church	Eastleigh	Spiritualist	–	Spiritualists have worshipped here since 1955. The current church opened in 1994.
St Thomas's Church	St Thomas's Church, Fair Oak	Fair Oak	Anglican	–	Fair Oak's church was built in 1863. It has a nave, chancel, and apse (a rounded end), but no spire or tower.
Sandy Lane Gospel Hall	Sandy Lane Gospel Hall, Fair Oak	Fair Oak	Open Brethren	–	This Gospel hall dates from the 1930s and was registered for marriages in February 1949.
St Swithun Wells Church	St Swithun Wells Church, Fair Oak	Fair Oak	Roman Catholic	–	Catholics in Fair Oak got their own church in 1978. It was registered for worship and marriages that year.
St Andrew's Church	St Andrew's Church, Hamble-le-Rice	Hamble-le-Rice	Anglican	II*	This church started as a 12th-century priory. It has a long, wide nave and chancel. Some additions were made in the 1800s.
St John the Evangelist's Church	St John the Evangelist's Church, Hedge End	Hedge End	Anglican	II	This church was built in 1873–74. It has a tall, landmark spire. The stained glass windows in the apse were designed in 1880.
St Luke's Church	St Luke's Church, Hedge End	Hedge End	Anglican	–	This church was built in the early 1990s to serve the northern part of Hedge End. It is an oval-shaped brick building.
King's Community Church	King's Community Church, Hedge End	Hedge End	Evangelical	–	This building was registered in April 2000. It is part of a church partnership in the Solent region.
Hedge End Methodist Church	Hedge End Methodist Church	Hedge End	Methodist	–	This brick church was built in 1924 as a United Methodist chapel. It replaced an earlier chapel.
Brethren Meeting Room	Brethren Meeting Room, St John's Road, Hedge End	Hedge End	Plymouth Brethren Christian Church	–	This meeting room was built in 2006 to replace a smaller one nearby.
Brethren Meeting Room	Brethren Meeting Room, Granada Road, Hedge End	Hedge End	Plymouth Brethren Christian Church	–	This meeting room is still registered for worship, but a larger one has replaced it. It was built in 1963.
Church of Our Lady of the Assumption	Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, Hedge End	Hedge End	Roman Catholic	–	A temporary chapel opened here in 1964, and the current building was built in 1975.
Salvation Army Hall	Salvation Army Hall, Hedge End	Hedge End	Salvation Army	–	Construction on this new church and community center started in March 2013. It replaced an older hall.
Hedge End Strict Baptist Chapel	Hedge End Strict Baptist Chapel	Hedge End	Strict Baptist	–	This small brick chapel was built in 1845 for Strict Baptist worshippers.
Hedge End United Reformed Church	Hedge End United Reformed Church	Hedge End	United Reformed Church	–	This church replaced an older Congregational mission hall in 1985.
St Martin-in-the-Wood Church	St Martin-in-the-Wood Church, Hiltingbury	Hiltingbury	Anglican	–	This church was built in 1960 as a combined place of worship and community center for new housing.
Horton Heath Baptist Church	Horton Heath Baptist Church	Horton Heath	Baptist	–	The church has used Horton Heath's community center since their old chapel was torn down. The old chapel was built in 1862.
St Mary's Church	St Mary's Church, Hound	Hound	Anglican	II*	This tiny 13th-century chapel is now part of the Netley parish. It has a highly regarded stained glass window from 1959.
St Edward the Confessor's Church	St Edward the Confessor's Church, Netley	Netley	Anglican	II	This church is near the ruined Netley Abbey. It has a three-stage tower and a rose window.
Church of the Annunciation	Church of the Annunciation, Netley	Netley	Roman Catholic	–	This church was built as a church hall in 1949. It's a "modest low brick building" that still serves as a church.
St Nicolas' Church	St Nicolas' Church, North Stoneham	North Stoneham	Anglican	II*	Only small parts of the medieval church remain, like a west window from around 1230. The church was rebuilt in the 1500s.
St James's Church	St James's Church, West End	West End	Anglican	II	This church opened in 1890, replacing an earlier building. It has a large brick exterior and an "impressive" interior.
West End Free Church	West End Free Church, West End	West End	Baptist	–	This church was built in 1884 or 1885. It joined the Baptist Union in the 1960s.
Anchor Community Church	Anchor Community Church, West End	West End	Non-denominational	–	This church building was first registered in February 1975. It has had two previous names.
Brethren Meeting Room	Brethren Meeting Room, West End	West End	Plymouth Brethren Christian Church	–	Permission to build this Brethren meeting room was given in April 1996.
St Brigid's Church	St Brigid's Church, West End	West End	Roman Catholic	–	This church was dedicated to Brigid of Kildare and registered in January 1968. It's a simple brick and concrete building.

Former Places of Worship

Former places of worship

Name	Image	Location	Denomination/ Affiliation	Grade	Notes	Refs
St Bartholomew's Church	Former St Bartholomew's Church, Botley	Botley	Anglican	II*	Only the chancel of this old church remains. The main part of the church collapsed in the 1830s. It was officially closed in May 1982.
Bursledon Congregational Church	Former Congregational Church, Bursledon	Bursledon	Congregational	–	An older Congregational chapel existed here by 1908. This building replaced it in 1930 and is now empty.
Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary	Former Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary, Bursledon	Bursledon	Roman Catholic	II	This was originally a ballroom that was turned into a private Catholic chapel in 1906. It later became a public church but is now closed.
Chandler's Ford Methodist Chapel	Former Methodist Chapel, Chandler's Ford	Chandler's Ford	Methodist	–	This chapel was built in 1900. It was sold in 1957 to help fund a new church and became an Age Concern center.
Chandler's Ford United Reformed Church	Chandler's Ford United Reformed Church	Chandler's Ford	United Reformed Church	–	This church opened in 1929. It was designed by Herbert Collins. The church closed on September 3, 2021.
Crowdhill Wesleyan Methodist Chapel	Former Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Crowdhill, Fair Oak	Crowdhill, Fair Oak	Methodist	–	This chapel was registered for worship between 1872 and 1980. It was a stone and brick building.
Church of the Resurrection	Former Church of the Resurrection, Eastleigh	Eastleigh	Anglican	II	This church was built in three stages between 1868 and 1905. It was the town's parish church until it closed in 1978. It was converted into flats in 2004.
Eastleigh Methodist Church	Former Methodist Church, Eastleigh	Eastleigh	Methodist	–	Built in 1904, this brick chapel could hold 270 worshippers. It was used until 1959, then became a Masonic hall.
Gospel Hall	Former Gospel Hall, Eastleigh	Eastleigh	Open Brethren	–	Now a restaurant, this building on Eastleigh High Street was used as a Gospel hall from 1887 to 1968.
Brethren Meeting Room	Former Brethren Meeting Room, Northlands Road, Eastleigh	Eastleigh	Plymouth Brethren	–	This meeting room dates from 1908 and was used for over a century. It was converted into a house in 2013.
Salvation Army Hall	Former Salvation Army Hall, Eastleigh	Eastleigh	Salvation Army	–	This hall opened in 1887 and is now the Eastleigh Museum. It was used for religious purposes until 1991.
Salvation Army Barracks	Former Salvation Army Barracks, Fair Oak	Fair Oak	Salvation Army	–	This was built as a Salvation Army hall in 1896 but stopped being used for religion in 1900. It's now a Scout troop headquarters.
Netley Methodist Church	Former Methodist Church, Netley	Netley	Methodist	–	This church was first registered as Netley Mission Hall in 1888. It closed in 2011.