St Mary and St Abraam Coptic Orthodox Church, Hove facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Mary and St Abraam
The church from the northeast
50°49′51.89″N 0°9′21.04″W / 50.8310806°N 0.1558444°W / 50.8310806; -0.1558444
Location	Davigdor Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 1RF
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Coptic Orthodox Church
Website	www.stmary-stabraam.co.uk
History
Founded	1994
Dedication	Mary and Abraham of Egypt
Dedicated	1909 (as Anglican church); 1994 (as Coptic Orthodox church)
Architecture
Architect(s)	Clayton & Black (original building); Antonius Saad, Brighton (alterations)
Style	Early English Gothic Revival
Completed	1909
Administration
Division	The Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate

The St Mary and St Abraam Church is a special place of worship for the Coptic Orthodox Church. It is located in Hove, a town that is part of the English city of Brighton and Hove. This church is one of 27 Coptic Orthodox churches found across the British Isles.

The Coptic community in Brighton and Hove started in 1990. Just four years later, in 1994, the community moved into its current building on Davigdor Road. This road is right on the border between Brighton and Hove.

The Church Building: A Look Back in Time

The building where St Mary and St Abraam Church is now located is quite old. It was first built in 1909 as an Anglican church called St Thomas the Apostle. Anglican churches are part of the Church of England.

Who Designed the Original Church?

The church was designed by a famous architecture company from Brighton called Clayton & Black. They designed many well-known buildings in the area. Some of their other projects include the Duke of York's Picture House and the French Convalescent Home.

What Does the Building Look Like?

The church building is tall and made of red bricks. It was built in a style called Early English Gothic, which means it has features like pointed arches. On its eastern side, there is a very large window with a pointed arch. The northern side, where the main entrance is, has five smaller windows.

Why Did the Original Church Close?

The last service for St Thomas the Apostle church was held on January 17, 1993. On July 20, 1993, the church was officially closed because it was no longer needed for its original purpose. The local church leaders said the building was in poor condition. However, the Coptic Orthodox Church bought it soon after. The old St Thomas the Apostle church community joined another nearby church, All Saints Church. Some special artworks from St Thomas the Apostle were moved to St Mary's Church, Kemptown.

The Coptic Orthodox Church in Hove

After the Coptic Orthodox Church bought the building, it became a new home for their community.

Who Are the Worshippers?

Many of the first people who started the Coptic community in Hove were refugees. They had come from Sudan because of the Second Sudanese Civil War. This means many worshippers at the church are from Sudan. Also, many Copts who originally came from Egypt attend the church. In the year 2000, it was thought that about 4,000 Sudanese people worshipped here, led by two priests.

The back of the church building.

A Special Dedication Ceremony

The former leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope Shenouda III, visited Hove. On September 23, 1994, he held a special ceremony to officially dedicate the church. This made it a sacred place for Coptic worship. The church was then officially registered for worship under its new name. In 1995, it was also allowed to perform marriage ceremonies. An addition to the building was approved in 1998 to make more space.

Amazing Features Inside the Church

The inside of the church has some very interesting parts.

The Tallest Iconostasis

In 2000, a huge screen called an iconostasis was put in. It is made of beautiful mahogany and oak wood. This iconostasis is about 7.5 meters (24.6 feet) tall! People say it is the tallest structure of its kind in the world. Small pieces of the iconostasis were carved one by one in Egypt. Then, they were brought to Hove. A team of volunteers put them all together in just six hours. They finished it just in time for the Easter celebrations that year. In Eastern Christianity, Easter is celebrated using a different calendar than in Western Christianity.

Pope Shenouda III came back to the church on August 13, 2000. He dedicated the new iconostasis. This screen shows 24 icons, which are special religious paintings. They include scenes like the Last Supper, Jesus Christ, and other holy figures.

Art by a Priest

Father Zakaria Botros was an Egyptian priest in charge of the church at that time. He painted a large icon of Christ that hangs above the altar. What's amazing is that he did this even though he had no formal art training!

A Time of Protest

In 2003, Father Botros left the church. This caused many members of the church to protest. They believed he was forced to leave. Some protestors even stayed inside the church and refused to eat. Pope Shenouda III had to get involved. He spoke to hundreds of church members using a mobile phone link from Egypt to help calm the situation.

Coptic Orthodox Churches in the UK

St Mary and St Abraam Church was the first Coptic Orthodox church in the south of England, outside of London. There are many other Coptic Orthodox churches across the British Isles. Some of them are in places like Kensington and Croydon in London, Lapworth in Warwickshire, and Manchester. You can also find them in Newport in Wales, Kirkcaldy in Scotland, and Dublin in the Republic of Ireland.

Currently, there are about 30,000 members of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom. Another 5,000 Copts are part of the British Orthodox Church. Together, these communities are served by 27 Coptic Orthodox churches.

See also

• List of places of worship in Brighton and Hove
• Coptic Orthodox Church in Britain and Ireland