St Mary the Virgin, Brighton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Kemptown, Brighton |
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The church from the southeast
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| 50°49′13″N 0°7′46″W / 50.82028°N 0.12944°W | |
| Location | St James's Street/Upper Rock Gardens, Kemptown, Brighton and Hove BN2 1PR |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | www.stmaryschurchbrighton.org.uk/ |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 1826 |
| Founder(s) | Charles Elliott |
| Dedication | The Virgin Mary |
| Dedicated | 18 January 1827 |
| Consecrated | 15 October 1878 (present building) |
| Events | 1876: collapsed during reconstruction 1877: rebuilt in Early English style |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 20 August 1971 |
| Architect(s) | William Emerson |
| Style | Early English Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1878 |
| Construction cost | £10,000 (£729 thousand in 2025) |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1,000 |
| Nave width | 40 feet (12 m) |
| Height | 60 feet (18 m) |
| Materials | Red brick |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Brighton, Kemp Town: St Mary |
| Deanery | Rural Deanery of Brighton |
| Archdeaconry | Chichester |
| Diocese | Chichester |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Mary's Church is an Anglican church located in the Kemptown area of Brighton, England. The current church building was finished in the late 1870s. It replaced an older church of the same name that suddenly fell down during renovations. This red-brick church has a Gothic style, similar to Early English and French Gothic designs. Today, it is a Grade II* listed building, meaning it's very important historically. The church is still open and active, even though it faced possible closure.
Contents
History of St Mary's Church
In the early 1800s, Brighton became a very popular place, especially for wealthy people. This led to the building of many "proprietary chapels." These were private churches that had an Anglican minister but no official parish. The first St Mary's Church was one of these chapels, built in the 1820s.
Building the First Church
A man named Barnard Gregory got permission to build a church on St James's Street in Brighton. In 1826, he sold this right to Charles Elliott, a merchant who lived in both London and Brighton. Charles Elliott was part of the Clapham Sect, a group of Anglican reformers. His family was very important in Brighton's religious life.
The Earl of Egremont, who owned land nearby, gave some of his property for the church. He hired Amon Henry Wilds, a famous architect from that time, to design it. Wilds chose a Neoclassical style, making the church look like an ancient Greek temple. It was similar to another church he had designed earlier in Brighton.
Who Was the First Minister?
The law for this private chapel allowed the owner to choose a minister for 40 years. Charles Elliott chose his oldest son, Henry Venn Elliott, to be the first minister in August 1826. Henry had become a priest in 1824.
The Bishop of Chichester officially opened the church on January 18, 1827. It cost about £10,000, which was much more than planned. The outside of the church had four large columns and a triangular roof section. Inside, there were balconies on three sides. The church could hold 947 people, and 240 seats were free. At that time, people usually had to pay for church seats. Henry Venn Elliott served as the minister until he passed away in 1865.
The Church Becomes a Parish Church
In 1873, St Mary's became a proper parish church for the first time. This happened when Brighton's church areas were reorganized. The church building was then owned by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and all seats became free.
By this time, the church was in poor condition. In June 1876, while repairs were just starting, the walls of the chancel (the area around the altar) collapsed. The roof fell in, and the entire building was ruined. Instead of fixing the old church, they decided to build a new one in the popular Gothic style. Sir William Emerson, a well-known architect, was asked to design the new building.
Building the New Church
While the new church was being built, the congregation met in the Royal Pavilion. The foundation stone for the new church was laid on May 29, 1877. It took two years to complete and cost £15,231. A building company from nearby Hove did the construction. The new Bishop of Chichester, Richard Durnford, officially opened the church on October 15, 1878.
Changes and Challenges Over Time
In 1948, St Mary's parish grew when the nearby St James's Church closed. When St James's was torn down in 1975, some of its memorials and items were moved to St Mary's.
Later, St Mary's Church itself faced possible closure. Between 2002 and 2003, the Diocese of Chichester looked at all the Anglican churches in Brighton and Hove. Their report in June 2003 said that St Mary's needed a lot of repairs. It also noted that the church had a small congregation and wasn't financially strong. Another church nearby, St George's Church, had become the main church for the Kemptown area.
The report suggested either closing St Mary's completely or using most of the building for community projects. A small Anglican chapel could remain inside. However, since this report, no plans for closure have been made. The church is still open and continues to hold regular services.
Architecture of the Church
The design of St Mary's Church is often called Early English Gothic Revival or French Gothic Revival. It was built using red brick with some sandstone and terracotta decorations on the outside. Inside, there is Bath stonework.
The church has a chancel with a five-sided apse (a rounded end) and an ambulatory (a walkway around it). It also has transepts (parts that stick out on the sides) and a very long nave (the main part where people sit) with aisles. A tower was planned but never fully built, so only a small part of it exists. There are two entrance porches, an organ room, and two vestries (rooms for clergy). The nave has two levels, with the higher level forming the baptistery (where baptisms happen).
St Mary's Church Today
St Mary's Church was officially listed as a Grade II* building on August 20, 1971. This means it is a particularly important building. In 2001, it was one of 70 Grade II*-listed buildings in Brighton and Hove.
The church's parish covers an area of Brighton just behind the seafront, east of the city center. Its boundaries include the seafront, Old Steine, White Street, Sussex Street, the top of Queen's Park, Sutherland Road, and Bedford Street.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Brighton and Hove
- List of places of worship in Brighton and Hove
