St Wilfrid's Church, Hailsham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Wilfrid's Church |
|
|---|---|
_(1955_and_2015_buildings).JPG)
The 2015 (left) and 1955 (right) church buildings from the northwest, seen in 2016
|
|
| 50°51′38″N 0°15′21″E / 50.8605°N 0.2557°E | |
| Location | South Road, Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 3JG |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | saintsgeorgeandwilfrid.co.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 1922 |
| Founder(s) | Mgr Arthur Cocks |
| Dedication | Wilfrid |
| Consecrated | 21 April 2016 (third church) |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | First church: Fr Alexis Hauber Second church: Henry Bingham Towner Third church: Simon Franks of Innerdale Hudson Architects |
| Style | First church: Vernacular Second church: Vernacular Third church: Modern |
| Years built | First church: 1922 Second church: 1954–55 Third church: 2014–15 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Hailsham and Polegate |
| Deanery | Eastbourne |
| Diocese | Arundel and Brighton |
St Wilfrid's Church is a Roman Catholic church in Hailsham, a town in East Sussex, England. The church you see today was finished in 2015. It is actually the third church building to stand on this spot. The first was a small hall built in 1922, and the second was a larger church from 1955. All three buildings have been on land owned by a Catholic family since the 1800s.
For a long time, there weren't many Catholics in the Hailsham area. People who wanted to attend Mass (a Catholic church service) had to meet in simple places. Sometimes they met in private homes. From 1917, they even used a part of a brewery's stables! But the number of Catholics grew quickly after the first church opened. In 1957, Hailsham became its own independent parish, which is like a local church community. Before that, it was part of a much larger parish based in Eastbourne.
The Hailsham parish grew even more in the early 2000s when the nearby town of Polegate joined it. Now, the parish is called "Hailsham and Polegate." St Wilfrid's Church holds two Sunday Masses each week. It works together with St George's Church in Polegate. Both churches are part of the Eastbourne Deanery, which is a group of parishes, within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton.
Contents
The Story of St Wilfrid's Church
Hailsham is an old market town about 8 miles (13 km) north of Eastbourne. It has been a center for farming and business for hundreds of years. When a railway line opened, more people moved to Hailsham. By the early 1900s, many different Christian groups had their own churches. However, there was no specific place for Roman Catholics to worship. Hailsham was part of a huge Catholic parish based in Eastbourne. In 1895, the priest there noted that Hailsham had only three known Catholics, which was a very small number for such a large town.
Early Catholic Gatherings
About 3 miles (5 km) from Hailsham was a village called Upper Dicker. This area was known for its strong Protestant beliefs. But one Catholic woman lived there. In 1915, she asked the Bishop if she could use part of her house as a public oratory (a small chapel) for herself and other local Catholics. The Bishop agreed. On July 15, 1915, the first Mass was held there for her and three other people. This became a regular event, and soon nurses from Hellingly Hospital also started attending.
In 1917, a new priest, Mgr Arthur Cocks, decided that Hailsham would be a better place for Mass than Upper Dicker. It was hard to find a permanent place in Hailsham at first. There wasn't much money, and some people in the town were not welcoming to Catholics. But then, the Catholic woman from Upper Dicker moved to Hailsham. She arranged for a priest to celebrate Mass at her new home.
From July 28, 1917, Mgr Cocks was able to rent part of a brewery on Battle Road. The brewery had stables at the back. The hay-loft (an upper room where hay was stored) was divided to create a simple chapel. People reached it by a wooden staircase. Masses were held once a month, and soon more than ten people were attending.
Building the First Church Hall
Also in 1917, the Catholic Church found out that a Catholic family owned land on South Road, near the Hailsham railway station. Mgr Cocks bought this land in 1920, hoping to build a permanent church there. The Archdiocese (the larger church region) helped with the money.
_(1922_building)_(2).JPG)
Work on a small, permanent hall started quickly. It was designed by Fr. Alexis Hauber, a priest from Eastbourne. The building cost about £700 and opened for worship on August 12, 1922. It was a brick building with a low, tiled roof.
The number of people attending Mass grew from 29 to 70 by 1926. This included Catholics from nearby towns like Polegate and villages such as Chiddingly and Herstmonceux. People started saving money for a larger church. By 1934, they had £1,500.
The Second Church Building
During World War II, thousands of people moved to Eastbourne and the surrounding areas. The small church hall in Hailsham became too small. A public hall had to be rented for Sunday Masses. A temporary Nissen hut (a metal hut) was also put up in the church grounds for more space.
Plans for a larger church were delayed by the war. It wasn't until 1952 that architect Henry Bingham Towner was hired to design a new building. The Ministry of Works approved the plans at the end of 1952. The foundation stone for the new church was laid on June 6, 1954. The church officially opened on May 22, 1955. It was built by Richard Thorpe Bros. of Southborough, Kent. Joseph Cribb carved the foundation stone and statues for the church. The large entrance doors came from a mansion that had been taken down in nearby Battle. The temporary Nissen hut was removed in the summer of 1955.
In October 1957, St Wilfrid's Church became the center of its own independent parish, separate from Eastbourne. It was first called "Hailsham with Hellingly." For many years, Mass was also celebrated at a chapel in Hellingly Hospital, a large psychiatric hospital within the parish. This continued until 1988.
Over the years, many improvements were made to St Wilfrid's. A new house for the priest was built in 1959. In 1964, the church was redecorated. New Stations of the Cross (carvings showing events from Jesus's final journey) were added. In 1966, the entrance was rebuilt as a baptistery (where baptisms take place), and a new font (for holy water) was added. A new porch was also built. In 1970, a new altar was carved from Portland stone. A stained glass window was also installed, honoring Margaret Clitherow, one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.
The Current Church Building
The 1955 church could hold about 130 people. In the early 2000s, it was decided to build another new church on the South Road site. The 1955 building would then become a church hall. Innerdale Hudson Architects of Eastbourne designed the new building. The Diocese of Arundel and Brighton approved the plan in late 2013. Wealden District Council gave permission in May 2014.
_(2015_building)_(5).JPG)
Construction of the new church took place in 2014–2015. The original 1922 church hall was used to store building materials. A temporary building was set up in the grounds to serve as a church hall during this time. By April 2015, the steel frame of the new church was in place. All outside construction work finished later that year.
The first Mass in the new St Wilfrid's Church was held on October 31, 2015. Many items from the old church, like the Stations of the Cross, the altar, and the font, were moved into the new building. Bishop Richard Moth officially consecrated (blessed) the church on April 21, 2016. The project finished on time and under budget. Money for the church came from parish fundraising events and gifts, raising £260,000.
How the Church Looks
The 1954–55 church, designed by Bingham Towner, was a "pleasant little building." It was made of yellowish-buff brick with a steep, shingled roof. It was built in a simple, traditional style. One expert described it as "modest indeed." Its windows, with their leaded glass, looked a bit like an old Tudor-style house.
The newest church, built in 2015, is wider than the previous one. Its roof is flatter to avoid affecting nearby houses. The church has a main area with side aisles, which have lower ceilings and large windows. The building curves outwards in the middle, creating more space inside. The roof extends out over the entrance, forming a large overhang. The church is built of brick and has a lot of glass facing the street.
Church Services and Community
St Wilfrid's Church is officially registered for worship. It is also registered for weddings.
St Wilfrid's Church is part of the Hailsham and Polegate parish. This parish also includes St George's Church in Polegate, which opened in 1938. The Hailsham and Polegate parish is one of nine parishes in the Deanery of Eastbourne and St Leonards-on-Sea. This deanery is one of 11 in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton.
As of 2025, one priest serves the Hailsham and Polegate parish. He celebrates Mass at St Wilfrid's Church at 10:30 AM on Sundays. He also celebrates Mass at St George's Church in Polegate at 9:00 AM on Sundays. A monthly Sacrament of Penance (confession) is also offered at St George's.
In 2005–2006, the Diocese looked at how many people attended its churches. At that time, 153 people attended the two Sunday Masses at St Wilfrid's Church. The old church could hold about 130 people, though some reports said it could hold up to 100. The new church was designed to hold at least 160 people.
See also
External links
- saintsgeorgeandwilfrid.co.uk
