St John the Evangelist's Church, St Leonards-on-Sea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Evangelist's Church |
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The church from the northwest
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 St John the Evangelist's Church
Location in East Sussex
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| 50°51′21″N 0°33′11″E / 50.8559°N 0.5530°E | |
| Location | Upper Maze Hill/Pevensey Road, Upper St Leonards, Hastings, East Sussex TN38 0RD |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Open Catholic |
| Website | www.stjohnspevenseyroad.org.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 1865 (in temporary church) |
| Founder(s) | Fr. Charles Lyndhurst Vaughan of Christ Church |
| Dedication | John the Evangelist |
| Dedicated | 20 April 1865 |
| Consecrated | 1883 |
| Events | 1865: Temporary church erected 1866: Church destroyed by a storm c. 1867: New church opened 1878: Building damaged by fire 1880: Work started on replacement church 1943: Church bombed 1950: Rebuilding started |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 14 September 1976 |
| Architect(s) | Arthur Blomfield (original church); Harry Stuart Goodhart-Rendel (rebuilding) |
| Style | Early English Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1881 |
| Construction cost | £12,300 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Upper St Leonards: St John the Evangelist |
| Deanery | Hastings |
| Archdeaconry | Hastings |
| Diocese | Chichester |
St John the Evangelist's Church is an Anglican church in St Leonards-on-Sea, a town in East Sussex, England. It is the main church for the Upper St Leonards area. This church is known for its impressive Gothic Revival style and its tall tower.
The current building combines parts of an older church from 1881, designed by Arthur Blomfield, which was damaged during World War II. It also includes new parts rebuilt in the 1950s by Harry Stuart Goodhart-Rendel. Interestingly, two earlier churches on this same spot were also destroyed in the 19th century. The church has beautiful stained glass windows and a 16th-century painting. It is considered a very important building for its history and design.
Contents
The Story of St John's Church
St Leonards-on-Sea was a new town started in 1827 by a builder named James Burton. It was built near the old port of Hastings. The town quickly became a popular place for holidays and homes.
In the mid-1800s, there were two churches in St Leonards. But these churches mostly served rich visitors and residents. They charged money to sit in the pews. This meant many working-class people, like shopkeepers and builders, had no place to worship nearby. They had to travel miles to another church.
A Church for Everyone
Lady St John, a kind woman, paid for a third church to be built. This new church would not charge for seats, so poorer people could attend. This church, called Christ Church, opened in 1860.
In 1863, Rev. Charles Lyndhurst Vaughan became the vicar of Christ Church. He was Lady St John's son. He worked hard to make the church popular, and it was often full. More homes were being built north of the town in an area called Upper St Leonards. Rev. Vaughan decided to build another church there.
The First Churches on the Site
A temporary church was built in Upper St Leonards in 1865. It cost £2,000. This church was named St John the Evangelist. It opened on April 20, 1865.
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This first church was made of iron and was known as "The Round Church." Sadly, a big storm in October 1866 badly damaged its roof. Rev. Vaughan quickly had it rebuilt, this time using brick. The new brick church opened on August 6, 1867. Some people think the famous architect Samuel Sanders Teulon designed it.
But this brick church only lasted 11 years. On the night of November 30, 1878, it caught fire and was destroyed.
Building the Third Church
The church was rebuilt again, this time by Arthur Blomfield. He was a very well-known architect who designed many churches in the Gothic Revival style. He used parts of the old 1867 church in his new design. Work on this third church began in 1880.
Most of the building was finished by 1881, costing £12,300. The church was officially opened in 1883. It became a lively church, famous for its music. It even had a choir school for many years.
World War II Damage and Rebuilding
In 1943, during World War II, the church was bombed by German planes. On February 9, 1943, a large bomb went through the spire and tower. It exploded inside, destroying most of the building. Only the tall, eight-sided tower and parts of the west wall survived.
After the war, in 1949, a nearby hall was used as a temporary church. A new building was planned behind the old tower. Harry Stuart Goodhart-Rendel, a famous architect known for his unique designs, was chosen for the job. He designed a new church in a modern Gothic Revival style, using red brick.
Construction started in 1950 and finished in 1954. On May 18, 1951, Princess Elizabeth (who later became Queen Elizabeth II) laid the foundation stone. The new parts of the church were dedicated in 1952 and 1957. The original spire, damaged by the bombing, could not be fixed. A new "cap" was added to the top of the tower instead.
Church Design and Features
The church designed by Arthur Blomfield in 1881 was built in the Early English Gothic Revival style. It used red brick and some light-colored stone. It had a long main hall called a nave and a chancel near the altar. The tall, eight-sided tower at the southwest corner is a local landmark. It has four bells inside.
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When the church was rebuilt after the bombing, only the tower and the west wall of the nave remained. Harry Stuart Goodhart-Rendel used these old parts in his new design. His church is also in the Early English Gothic Revival style, but with his own creative ideas. He used red brick inside and out, with some yellow bricks for contrast.
The church still has a long nave. Goodhart-Rendel made the chancel longer and added special arches that look like a "strange bridge." The damaged spire on the tower was replaced with a low cap. The tower still has pointed arches and a decorative top. The main entrance is through a porch at the bottom of the tower.
Inside the Church
Inside, the nave and chancel are separated by a large, round arch. This arch was meant to hold the organ, but the current organ is in the north transept. This organ came from St Catharine's College, Cambridge in 1974.
The walls inside are mostly stone covered with plaster. The ceiling in the chancel is painted. The floor in the chancel is stone. The church has a 19th-century font (for baptisms) made of marble. There is also an old lectern (for reading) and an eight-sided pulpit (for sermons).
The stained glass windows were mostly designed by Joseph Ledger in 1952. He was a favorite designer of Goodhart-Rendel. The church also has a 16th-century painting by Ortolano Ferrarese that shows the Adoration of Jesus. Many other items inside, like the choir stalls, came from Blomfield's original church.
St John's Church Today
St John the Evangelist's Church was given a special heritage status called Grade II* by English Heritage on September 14, 1976. This means it is a "particularly important" building with great historical and architectural value. It is one of many important churches in St Leonards-on-Sea.
The church serves the Upper St Leonards area. Its parish boundaries mostly follow the railway line and main roads. The church holds services on Sunday mornings and prayer sessions during the week.
See also
- List of places of worship in Hastings
- Baston Lodge to the south
