Robertson Street United Reformed Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Robertson Street United Reformed Church |
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| His Place Church | |
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The Robertson Street entrance to the church in 2010
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| 50°51′20″N 0°34′39″E / 50.8555°N 0.5775°E | |
| Location | Robertson Street/Cambridge Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 1HT |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | United Reformed Church |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Events | 18 April 1887: registered for marriages 30 December 2012: closed as a United Reformed church 2014: reopened as a Pentecostal church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active (as Pentecostal church) |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 29 January 2010 |
| Architect(s) | Henry Ward |
| Style | Neoclassical/Mannerist |
| Groundbreaking | 11 September 1884 |
| Completed | 1885 |
The Robertson Street United Reformed Church, also known as His Place Church, is a historic building in the heart of Hastings, a coastal town in East Sussex, England. It was built in 1885 by Henry Ward, a famous architect who designed many important buildings in Hastings. This large church has detailed outside and inside features. It sits between Robertson Street and Cambridge Road. The building is officially recognized as a Grade II listed building because of its special architecture and history.
The church was originally a United Reformed Church. However, fewer people were attending, and the building was expensive to keep up. Because of this, it closed in 2012. A Christian group called Pentecostals, who needed a bigger space, bought the church. It reopened in 2014 and is now an active place of worship called His Place Church.
Contents
How the Church Began and Was Opened
The church was started in 1856 by Daniel Smith. He did a lot of work to share his faith around Hastings. The first church building on this spot was in the Gothic Revival style. Over time, the church grew too big for this original building. Also, the old building needed a lot of repairs.
The Rev. C. New was a key leader in the church community at the time. He helped raise money and plan for a new, larger church. Builders offered bids to construct the new church. John Howell was chosen for the job with a bid of £7,090. The church even bought the property next door to make room for the expansion.
While the new church was being built, the congregation met in different places. They held services at The Gaiety Theatre and the Hastings Pier pavilion.
Laying the Memorial Stone
The special memorial stone was laid on September 11, 1884, at 3:30 PM. A large crowd gathered for the event. Many church members and important local figures, like the Mayor, were there. A leading church member, Mr. Spicer, used a silver trowel to lay the stone. He said, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, I declare this stone well and truly laid."
The stone is on the Cambridge Road side of the building. It lists the names of those involved: "This stone was laid by James Spicer Esq. J.P., of Woodford on September 11, 1884. Rev. Charles New, Minister. H. Ward Architect. John Howell & Son, builders."
Church Dedication
The new church building was officially opened on October 7, 1885. Rev. C. New led the dedication service. Many church leaders and local officials attended this important event.
Other Churches Started by Rev. New
Rev. New also helped start other churches during his time as a minister. The Sedlescombe United Reformed Church opened in 1879. The Robertsbridge United Reformed Church opened in 1881. These churches are located north of Hastings. The Robertsbridge church stayed connected to the Robertson Street church for many years.
Challenges and Growth
The church faced challenges over the years. In 1943, the number of church members had dropped to 238. By December 1944, only 65 people attended the morning service.
However, things began to change when Rev. A. E. Gould became the minister in 1945. In less than ten years, he brought in almost 400 new members. By 1955, the church had over 400 members again. During Rev. Gould's time, the church raised £1000 to install new electric lighting in 1948. They advertised, "The church with a great past invites you to help equip it for a greater future."
Rev. Charles A. Haig took over in 1955. Under his leadership, the church became a strong center for sharing faith. The youth and children's programs were especially successful, guided by Kay Mozely.
Roof Repairs
In 1978, Rev. Brian Bowyer became the minister. He helped the church through a difficult time when major problems were found with the roof. For a long time, the main worship area was closed. The congregation had to meet in the church hall downstairs. Everyone worked hard to raise money. The roof was repaired just in time for a wedding to take place in the main church as planned.
Over time, the number of church members started to decline again. This was a trend seen in many churches across the country. The church constantly looked for new ways to serve the community.
Closure and Reopening as His Place
The number of members at Robertson Street church continued to fall. It went from 42 members in January 2010 to just 28 by December 2012. This was mainly due to members passing away. In 2012, the church leaders started thinking about the future. They knew it would be hard to get a new minister. The building also had serious problems that would be very expensive to fix. There were also other churches in Hastings that could welcome new members.
So, the congregation decided to close the church. They voted to close on September 21, 2012, and confirmed it on November 30. Robertson Street United Reformed Church officially closed on December 30, 2012. For many years, it had been a place for sharing faith and hosting community meetings.
The church was registered for worship and for marriages. It was part of the United Reformed Church's Southern Synod. This Synod looked after 168 churches in southeast England.
Reopening as His Place Church
Since December 2013, the building has been owned by His Place Church. This is a Pentecostal Christian group led by Reverend Chris Sears. His Place Church started in 1984 as a small group meeting in a home. In 1997, they moved to a former mission hall. However, they soon outgrew that space too.
They spent £35,000 on roof repairs for the new building. They are still raising money to fix other parts of the church. Today, His Place Church uses the building for worship. It also has a cafe, a theatre, a 'safe space' for people, and hosts mental health support groups. Many other community groups also use the building.
Needed Repairs
The windows, stonework, and ironwork of the church need a lot of repairs. These repairs are expected to cost over £750,000. More repairs are also needed for the Robertson Street entrance. Much of the inside of the church has been damaged by dampness. This was caused by the old roof (which is now fixed) and problems with the gutters. Fundraising efforts are ongoing. People can even 'sponsor' specific parts of the building that need fixing.
Opus Theatre
Besides being a place of worship, the building is also used as a theatre. It is called the Opus Theatre and is directed by Polo Piatti. The theatre has a horseshoe-shaped auditorium, which means it has excellent sound quality. The venue is also used for talks and other events.
Building Design
The church was officially recognized as a Grade II listed building on January 20, 2010. This means it is a "nationally important" building with "special interest."
The church is built from rough stone with smooth, cut stone details. The doors on both the Cambridge Road and Robertson Street sides are made of oak. The Robertson Street entrance has steps carved from York Stone. A grand staircase goes up from the Robertson Street entrance. It passes a hall that is now used as a cafeteria. Other stairs with decorative iron railings lead to the horseshoe-shaped gallery. The gallery also has curved pews with heating underneath. The church could originally seat 1100 people.
The basement of the church was designed to be used by the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). It also had classrooms and meeting rooms.
Inside Features
The galleries, pews, ceiling, and roof were made from a type of wood called pitch pine. The walls were finished with Parian cement, which is a fast-drying cement. When it first opened, the church was the only non-conformist place of worship lit by electricity.
The Organ
The church has a large organ made by Forster and Andrews. It has two control panels. Its decorative pipes are placed unusually, above the altar behind the minister. The organ was later repaired by Morgan and Smith. Some of the pipes are currently stored lying down because their supports have weakened. Other parts of the organ are not working.
See also
Images for kids
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Curved Pews at Robertson Street Congregational Church
