St John the Baptist's Church, Hove
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St John the Baptist, Hove |
|
| Dedication | St John the Baptist |
|---|---|
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Hove, St John the Baptist |
| Deanery | Rural Deanery of Hove |
| Archdeaconry | Chichester |
| Diocese | Chichester |
| Province | Canterbury |
| Clergy | |
| Vicar | Revd Christine Wilson |
| Curate | Revd Dr Steven Underdown |
| Curate | Revd Paul Doick |
| Other | |
St John the Baptist's Church is an Anglican church in Hove, part of the English city of Brighton and Hove. It was built between 1852 and 1854 to serve the community of the Brunswick area of Hove, which had originally been established in the 1830s.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
The land on which the Brunswick estate was built was originally a farming estate known as Wick Farm. It was sold to Thomas Read Kemp, who had been responsible for the Kemp Town residential development in neighbouring Brighton, in 1825. Some houses had been built the previous year, and Read Kemp is believed to have planned to create a similar exclusive development on this land;[1] but little happened until after it had been sold to the Jewish baronet Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid in 1830. Even then, it took another 20 years for the scheme to be altered and started properly.
Brunswick Town eventually consisted of 150 houses, many of which were exclusive and expensive,[1] but there was no suitable church nearby. Hove's original parish church, St Andrew's, was difficult to reach, while the nearest church on the way to Brighton, also called St Andrew's, was small.[1] Goldsmid therefore provided some land for a church to be built.
The decision to proceed with construction was taken by the diocese on 21 March 1851, and work started on 15 April 1852 after £4,500 had been raised through borrowings, private donations and a grant. Dr Ashurst Gilbert, the Bishop of Chichester, consecrated the new church on 24 June 1854.[2]
[edit] Architecture
The architects William and Edward Habershon, brothers who operated as a partnership, designed the church in the Victorian Gothic style, using flint and stone dressings[3] and incorporating elements of the mediæval Decorated style.[2][4] The cruciform building has a tower at the eastern end; this was added later, as was the spire. The church has been designated a Grade II listed building — this grade is applied to "buildings of special architectural or historic interest".[4]
[edit] The church today
As well as two Eucharist services on Sundays, there is a weekly Holy Communion service using the official 1662 version of the Book of Common Prayer, a monthly Communion service following the Celtic tradition, a film-based discussion group, children's activities and a Sunday school.[4]
[edit] Gallery
 The eastern end of the church, as seen from Western Road |
 Close view of the eastern end stained glass window |
 The spire and eastern end, looking to the north |
 Looking southeastwards from the western end of the church |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Dale, Antony [1989]. Brighton Churches. London EC4: Routledge, p110. ISBN 0-415-00863-8.
- ^ a b Dale, Antony [1989]. Brighton Churches. London EC4: Routledge, p112. ISBN 0-415-00863-8.
- ^ The Churches and Chapels of Brighton & Hove, Sussex - Past & Present. The Roughwood website. Mark Collins (2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-03.
- ^ a b c A Church Near You: Hove, St John the Baptist Church. A Church Near You website. Oxford Diocesan Publications Ltd (2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-03.
