St Paul's Church, Worthing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Venue (formerly St Paul's Church) |
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| 50°48′49″N 0°22′17″W / 50.8137°N 0.3713°W | |
| Location | Chapel Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 1HA |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | https://the-venue.uk/ |
| History | |
| Founded | 1812 |
| Dedicated | 18 September 1812 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | John Rebecca |
| Style | Greek Revival |
| Years built | 1812 |
| Closed | 1996 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Worthing, Holy Trinity with Christ Church |
| Diocese | Diocese of Chichester |
The Venue (once called St Paul's Church) in Worthing, England is a cool place for live music. It first opened in 1812. Back then, it was known as the Worthing Chapel of Ease.
It was built so that people living in or visiting Worthing didn't have to travel far. They used to go all the way to St Mary's Church in Broadwater. Worthing was a new and growing town, and people wanted a church closer to home.
The chapel was so important that it gave its name to a main street. This street is called Chapel Road. It runs through the middle of Worthing. The first leader of the chapel was Reverend William Davison. He used money from the church members to start schools. He opened schools for boys, girls, and even young children. The girls' school he started later became Davison High School.
How the Church Was Built
The chapel was paid for by selling and renting out pews (church seats). This meant it was a proprietary chapel. Because of this, poorer people often couldn't afford to go to church. Many people thought this was unfair.
Later, in 1893, enough money was raised to make the church bigger. It was then upgraded to a full parish church. It was named St Paul's Church, after Saint Paul.
Design and Materials
The building was designed by John Rebecca. Ambrose Cartwright built it. He also built Ambrose Place nearby. The church has a special entrance called a portico. It has four large columns in the Doric style. These columns face Chapel Road. Behind them is a small tower with a bell, called a cupola.
The church's yellow bricks came from blue clay. This clay was found in Worthing Common. This area was once a green space near the beach. Now, it's underwater. Parts of the building are also covered in a smooth plaster, called stucco.
Inside the Church
A local Worthing man, Edward Hide, finished the inside of the church. Queen Charlotte gave the church a royal coat of arms. She did this to thank the people of Worthing. They had been very kind to her daughters, Princesses Amelia and Charlotte, when they visited the town.
The church organ was a gift from Edward Ogle. People in Worthing called him "King Ogle." This was because he liked to be in charge. The main altar area, called the chancel, was first at the east end. But when the church was made bigger in the 1890s, the chancel had to be moved. It ended up at the west end, which is quite unusual for Anglican churches.
What It Is Now
The building closed in 1996. Its roof was not safe. Even so, it is a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a very important building in Worthing.
The old church has been changed into a cafe and a place for the community. People can hold weddings and concerts there. There are also homes next to it for people who need help.
It opened again in 2012. A group called "3 Pillars" managed it. This group included Fleur Penny, Charlie Norden, and Steve Hamblin. It became a cafe and an art center. Many people see it as a special part of Worthing today.
