Christ Church St. Leonards
| [[File:{{{image}}}|300x375px]] | |||
| General information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address |
| ||
| Location | |||
| Christ Church St. Leonards |
|---|
The original Christ Church St. Leonards was located where Renaissance House is by the bus stop, being funded by Lady St. John who disagreed with the poor having nowhere to sit at St. Mary Magdalene because they couldn't afford the pew seats. She laid the first stone on the 13th of July, 1859, with the sandstone for both this building and the later church being quarried on-site[1], construction being completed by 1860, with an extra floor being added to this building in 1896. Lady St. John's son was the first rector. In October, 1862 a new organ manufactured by Mr. Hartley of St. Leonards was unveiled. It had been hoped that it would be in use for a Divine Service on the 8th of October, however the instrument required some adjustments and it was finally utilised on the 12th of the same month[2]. In 1872, during a Christmas service, some greenery which had been suspended above a gas light caught fire, much to the consternation of the congregation, however the conflagration was quickly extinguished and the service able to continue[3].
The larger, current, church was built around 1875 on the junction of London Road and Silchester Road. According to some sources, the church was not bombed during WW2 because the Luftwaffe used the steeple as a marker point in their way to the East End of London.
In May 1927, an extension to the church was completed on the western side of the building and a weathervane in the form of a golden galleon was placed on the roof.[4]
Incumbents[edit]
1863: Rev. J. S. Bartlett[5]
Images[edit]
References & Notes
- ↑ Brett Manuscript Histories Vol. 7 Chap. 62 Pg. 160
- ↑ Brett Manuscript Histories Vol. 9 Chap. 62 Pg. 174
- ↑ British Newspaper Archive Hastings & St. Leonards Observer 28 December 1872 Pg. 0003
- ↑ Hastings & St Leonards Observer 21 May 1927 pg. 16
- ↑ British Newspaper Archive Illustrated London News 21 November 1863 Pg. 0007
