Old St. Helen's Church

From Historical Hastings

Located off Elphinstone Road this was possibly one of the earliest churches in the town, and constructed/enlarged over a number of distinct phases; 11th century nave, 12th century tower and 13th century chancel. By 1869 it was suffering from excessive problems with damp, so was demolished, the materials being salvaged to construct the new St Helen's Church a short distance away on The Ridge[1]

Known Incumbents[edit]

[ 8 ]

List of Rectors[edit]

Admission Date Rector How vacant
18 Apr 1361 William Page de Ukfield/ExchangePeter de Achesfont Resignation of William Page
(Rector on 4 Nov 1389, and in 1396-7) Thomas
John Walkyngton
20 Jun 1399 William Hankok Resignation of John Walkyngton
23 Nov 1399 William Godefray
28 Jan 1415-16 Walter Prew
William Taylour
Death of William Godefray
1423 Richard Hochekyne
9 Nov 1439 John Morcok Resignation of Richard Hochekyne
(Rector in 1463-4 John Rust
(Rector on July 13 1478 Dominus Michael Harsant
(Rector in 1535 William Tykynall
(Rector in December 1551) John Cartwright
28 Nov 1554 William Ridge Deprivation of John Cartwright

Rev. Devy Fearon

Smuggler's Graves[edit]

In the graveyard on the south side of the church were buried five smugglers in a row, together with those of seven women aged around 17 their graves being marked by a white row of headstones. It is unclear whether these survive to the present day[2].

First guide to the ruins[edit]

In 1949, F. W. B. Bullock (the son of the Rector W. C. Bullock between 1897-1929) wrote what is possibly the first published history of the church. The contents are in the process of transcription and can be found on this page:- Guide to the Ruins of St. Helen's Church.

Images[edit]

References & Notes

  1. History of St Helen's in Hastings, East Sussex, UK: History of St Helen's in Hastings, East Sussex, UK, accessdate: 30 November 2019
  2. Southall's Guide to St. Leonards and Hastings pg. 69