St Andrew the Apostle Church, Worthing facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids St Andrew the Apostle Church
Church of St Andrew the Apostle
The church from the southeast
50°48′55″N 0°22′39″W / 50.8153°N 0.3774°W / 50.8153; -0.3774
Location	Victoria Road/Clifton Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1XB
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Churchmanship	High church/Anglo-Catholic
Website	www.standrewsworthing.org.uk
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	1882
Founder(s)	George Wedd
Dedication	Andrew the Apostle
Consecrated	1888
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II
Designated	21 May 1976
Architect(s)	Arthur Blomfield
Style	Early English
Groundbreaking	1885
Completed	1886
Administration
Parish	Worthing, St Andrew
Deanery	Rural Deanery of Worthing
Archdeaconry	Chichester
Diocese	Chichester
Province	Canterbury

The Church of St Andrew the Apostle is an Anglican church located in Worthing, West Sussex, England. It was built between 1885 and 1886. The church was designed by Arthur Blomfield, a famous architect known for his Gothic Revival style.

When it was first built, the church faced some arguments. At that time, there were different ideas within the Anglican Church. Some people, called Anglo-Catholics, liked church decorations and practices that were similar to Roman Catholic churches. Others, called Low Church Anglicans, preferred simpler worship. A statue of the Virgin Mary inside St Andrew's Church caused a big disagreement. Opponents thought it was too much like Catholic worship. This argument, known as the "Worthing Madonna" dispute, delayed the church's official opening for several years. Today, the church is recognized for its important architecture and history.

A Look Back: History of the Church
- The "Worthing Madonna" Dispute
Church Design: Architecture
Other Buildings: Vestry and Vicarage
St Andrew's Church Today
See also

A Look Back: History of the Church

Worthing grew a lot during the 1800s. It started as a small town and became a popular seaside place. The number of people living there increased from about 2,000 to 14,000 between 1801 and 1881. During this time, many new churches were built.

In the mid-1800s, there were strong disagreements about how churches should worship. Some Anglicans, called Protestants, were very traditional. They did not like new practices that seemed similar to Catholic worship. Other Anglicans, influenced by the Oxford Movement, started using more traditional decorations and ceremonies. These groups often argued, especially in nearby Brighton.

These arguments spread to Worthing by the 1850s. Groups like the "Bonfire Boys" would hold parades and sometimes burn effigies (models) of people they disagreed with. They saw some church leaders as going against Protestant beliefs. Later, other groups like the police and the Salvation Army also became targets of these parades.

In the early 1880s, a group of Anglo-Catholics wanted to build a church in Worthing that matched their style of worship. George Wedd, who owned a large house nearby, led this effort. He bought land in 1881 and helped pay for the church's construction. Arthur Blomfield was chosen to design the building. Work began in 1882, and the foundation stone was laid in 1885. The church was mostly finished by 1886.

Even before it was completed, there were arguments. In 1882, local officials wanted to create a new church area (parish) for St Andrew's. This meant taking parts from other church parishes. The leaders of the other churches disagreed. They said their areas were not too big and already had enough churches. They also pointed out that St Andrew's was being built in an area that already had many churches.

The "Worthing Madonna" Dispute

More arguments started in late 1886 as the church was almost done. People found out that the church included a special small chapel, called a Lady chapel, with a statue of the Virgin and Child. For those who opposed Anglo-Catholic worship, this statue was a big problem. They believed it was a return to practices that the English Reformation had tried to stop. They worried it would encourage worship of statues and make Anglican churches look too much like Roman Catholic ones.

The statue quickly became known as the "Worthing Madonna". It was the main reason for the strong feelings against the church. The official opening (consecration) of the church, planned for 1886, was delayed because of these strong feelings. Many people, including other church leaders and local officials, asked the Bishop of Chichester to stop the consecration. They argued that the Madonna statue did not fit with the "Reformed church" (Anglican beliefs).

The Bishop, Richard Durnford, did not stop the consecration. He suggested that people take their complaints to a higher court. After a final appeal to the House of Lords failed, the church was finally consecrated on August 1, 1888. This was two years after it was finished. The first public service had already taken place a few months earlier, in May 1888.

After a while, the strong disagreements calmed down. There was a small argument in the 1890s about some church fittings. After World War I, there was another brief discussion about a war memorial inside St Andrew's. This memorial was a shrine showing the Crucifixion and was installed in 1919. It honored local people who died in the war.

Since it opened, the outside of St Andrew's Church has not changed much. The inside has slowly gained more decorations. A new marble altar was added in 1902. A beautiful wooden screen (rood screen) and choir stalls were put in in 1905. More altars were added in 1922 and 1950. In the 1970s, the inside brickwork was painted, and a glass memorial was created for a past vicar.

Like many churches from the 1800s, St Andrew's also had a smaller mission hall. This building was used for worship and community activities. It was built around 1900 but has since been taken down.

Church Design: Architecture

The chancel has an apsidal end.

Arthur Blomfield designed St Andrew's Church in the Early English Gothic style. This style is known for its tall, narrow windows and pointed arches. The church stands on a narrow piece of land between two roads. It is a cruciform building, meaning it is shaped like a cross when viewed from above. It is very tall, even though it doesn't take up much ground space.

The church is mostly made of brick covered with flint stones. It also has Bath stone for details. The roof is made of tiles. The church's layout includes a main hall (nave) with side aisles. It also has transepts that form the arms of the cross shape. There is a special area for baptisms (baptistery), a main altar area (chancel), a Lady chapel, and a room for priests (sacristy). The old vestry is now used as a hall.

The Lady chapel is next to the chancel. It has a rounded end (apse) and a vaulted ceiling. The baptistery also has a rounded end. The walls at the Lady chapel end are thicker. This is because a tower was originally planned to be built there. The chancel floor was once tiled but was changed to stone in the 1930s.

Inside, the church has many detailed decorations. Charles Eamer Kempe created most of the beautiful stained glass windows. He also made an amazing carved wooden screen behind the altar (reredos). The famous "Worthing Madonna" statue is in a special space in the Lady chapel. It shows the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. This statue was carved from Caen stone by Harry Hems. It has a border made of gold and dark red mosaic. Harry Hems also made the stone font in the baptistery, following Blomfield's design.

Kempe's stained glass is a major feature of the church. Almost all the windows have his designs. They show scenes like the birth of Jesus, the Epiphany, and various saints. One of Kempe's very first windows, which was saved from another church, is now in the sacristy.

Other Buildings: Vestry and Vicarage

The former vestry building was added to the church in 1908–9. It matches the church's style. This building is made of flint and stone. It has arched windows with five sections at its ends. It is now used as the church hall.

In 1924, another building, the vicarage, was added. This is where the vicar (priest) used to live. Its design is similar to the church and vestry. It is also made of flint and stone. It has a front with two gables and windows of different sizes.

Both the vestry and the vicarage were recognized as important buildings on May 21, 1976. They are among the many historic buildings in Worthing.

St Andrew's Church Today

St Andrew's Church was officially listed as a Grade C building on May 21, 1976. This listing means it is an important historic building. Grade C was an old ranking system for churches, similar to the current Grade II listing for other buildings.

The area (parish) that St Andrew's Church serves is quite small. It is believed to be one of the smallest in the Diocese of Chichester. It covers a few streets south of Worthing railway station.