St Mary Magdalene's Church, St Leonards-on-Sea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary Magdalene's Church |
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The church from the southwest
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| 50°51′12″N 0°33′54″E / 50.8532°N 0.5650°E | |
| Location | St Margaret's Road/Church Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings, East Sussex TN37 6EE |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Greek Orthodox |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 1852 |
| Dedication | Mary Magdalene |
| Events | 1982: Sold to Greek Orthodox community 1983: Reopened as Greek Orthodox church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 14 September 1976 |
| Architect(s) | Frederick Marrable |
| Style | Decorated Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1852 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Hastings and St Leonards |
| Archdiocese | Thyateira and Great Britain |
St Mary Magdalene's Church is a Greek Orthodox church in St Leonards-on-Sea, a town by the sea in East Sussex, England. It is named after Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus' followers. The church was built in 1852 for people who followed the Anglican faith. It stands high on a hill, overlooking the town. In 1872, a tall tower was added, making it even more noticeable.
In the 1980s, the Anglican community no longer needed the church. The Greek Orthodox Church quickly bought it. They changed it a little to fit their worship style. But many of its original parts and its "Gothic" look from the Victorian era are still there. The church is very important for its history and design. Because of this, English Heritage has given it a special Grade II listing.
Contents
History of the Church
How St Leonards-on-Sea Began
By the 1100s, Hastings was a big and important town on the coast. The famous Battle of Hastings happened nearby in 1066. Hastings had a castle and was a leader of the Cinque Ports. West of Hastings was a large area called Gensing. It had forests, farmland, and a beach. In the early 1800s, Hastings became popular again. People wanted to build new homes and businesses there.
A builder named James Burton saw how great the Gensing land was. He bought a big part of it in 1828. He then planned and built a whole new town called St Leonards-on-Sea. Homes, shops, and hotels were built very quickly. By 1832, St Leonards-on-Sea was officially a town. It soon became as popular as Hastings.
Building the First Churches
James Burton built the first Anglican church in St Leonards-on-Sea in 1831. It was called St Leonard's Church and could hold 800 people. After Burton died in 1837, the town kept growing. A new train station opened in 1851, bringing even more people.
St Leonard's Church was on the west side of town. It was the only Anglican church there. In 1848, a Roman Catholic chapel opened near Warrior Square. So, in 1850, a group decided to build a new Anglican church. This new church would serve the eastern part of St Leonards-on-Sea.
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The land Burton bought was part of two old areas: St Leonard's and St Mary Magdalene's. The new church was built in the St Mary Magdalene area. It was named after this old area. There used to be a medieval hospital called St Mary Magdalene in that spot.
Construction and Changes
Charles Eversfield gave the land for the new church. It was a high spot, perfect for a landmark. Money for the church came from the Bishop of Chichester and others. Frederick Marrable was chosen to design the church. Work began in 1852, and the church opened that same year. It could hold 822 people. The building cost £12,000, which was a lot of money back then.
The original plans included a tall tower and a spire. The spire was never built. But in 1872, a tower was added to the southwest side. They also added a room for the organ and a vestry (a room for priests). New stained glass windows by Morris & Co. were put in during 1882. A simple brick church hall was built in 1935.
In 1980, the church was no longer needed by the Anglican community. Soon after, the local Greek Orthodox community bought it. This happened around 1981, 1982, or 1983. In 1983, they added an iconostasis (a screen with icons) inside the church. This became a main feature.
Architecture of the Church
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St Mary Magdalene's Church is a beautifully designed building. It follows the "Decorated Gothic Revival" style. This style was very popular in the mid-1800s. The church is large and impressive. It sits on a high corner, which is common for churches in Hastings. This makes it look very grand.
The church is built using local sandstone. The walls, both inside and out, are made of smooth stone blocks. The Decorated Gothic Revival style looks like churches built in the 1300s.
The church has a main area called the nave. It has a clerestory, which means there are windows high up on the walls. There are also aisles on both sides. The chancel (the area near the altar) is a bit lower. The church has a four-story tower with a small turret. There is also a porch and a vestry. The aisles have five sections, separated from the nave by arches. The tower has two lancet windows (tall, narrow windows) on each side of its top part. The chancel has a special ceiling called a hammerbeam roof.
Inside, some original features are still there. There are stained glass windows from the 1800s. Some were damaged in 1943 during bomb attacks. You can still see a special seat called a sedilia and a piscina (a basin for washing) in the south wall. There is also a reredos (a decorated screen behind the altar) with a carving of the Last Supper. The porch has carved panels, and the font (for baptisms) is octagonal with carvings.
The Church Today
St Mary Magdalene's Church was given a Grade II listing by English Heritage on September 14, 1976. This means it is a "nationally important" building. It has "special interest" because of its history and design. In 2001, it was one of 521 Grade II listed buildings in Hastings.
The church is part of the Hastings and St Leonards parish. This parish belongs to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain. Two priests serve the church. One of them also serves another Greek Orthodox church in Eastbourne. That church was also once a different kind of church. Similarly, the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, Brighton in Brighton was once an Anglican church. It was converted in 1985.
The church is officially registered for worship. Its registration number is 79948.
See also
- List of places of worship in Hastings
- St. George's Episcopal Memorial Church, a church in the US with a stained glass window containing shards of glass collected from this church when it was damaged in World War II.
