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| Copyright © J.Middleton St John’s was in the heart of fashionable Hove. A crowded horse-bus can be seen passing by; in 1920 Canon Flynn complained about the noise motor buses made during Sunday Morning services |
Beginnings
It was in the 1840s that Isaac Lyon Goldsmid
offered to donate a site for a new church in Hove. On 20 January 1848
he wrote a letter to Robert Upperton, Hove churchwarden, and by a
strange coincidence it was sent from St John’s Lodge, Regent’s
Park. Goldsmid wrote:
‘Understanding that the erection
of a church near Adelaide Crescent would be more likely to be
convenient to the inhabitants of the houses there and to those who
reside in the neighbourhood, I beg to repeat in a more formal shape
an offer I made some time since.‘
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Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
1865 view of Palmeira Square and Adelaide Crescent |
Goldsmid stipulated the building
of the church must be started within one year and completed within
three years. He also wished to give a sufficient sum to endow a
sitting to belong to Wick Lodge in order that his servants
could attend services. Naturally, he would not be attending himself
since he was a Jew.
The letter was accompanied by a
fascinating plan showing the proposed site with a Hove Station Road
running north from the east side. The station in question was later
known as Holland Road Halt. At that time Church Road did not extend
as far as the proposed church site and there was merely a footpath
veering off at a north west angle. The site was at the extremity of
the Goldsmid Estate and the Stanford Estate bounded it on the west
side. In November 1851 Stanford Estate solicitors insisted there was
to be no building next to the church and that the ground should
become a carriage road.
However, far from appreciating
Goldsmid’s generous offer, people connected with the new church
seemed somewhat ungrateful to say the least. For a start, the prickly
Upperton complained to Goldsmid because he had been addressed as a
secretary. Goldsmid wrote back apologising and saying he did not know
what post Upperton held. Then a parish meeting passed a resolution
that ‘this meeting beg to express their acknowledgements to Baron
Goldsmid for his offer of a site for a new church but are of the
opinion that the place proposed would not suit their purpose being
too near the Parish Church.’ (St Andrew’s Old Church).
Thomas Rooper of Wick Hill
thought the scheme was far too ambitious. On 4 February 1851 he
stated he would not ‘pledge himself to subscribe anything to a
church to be built at some indefinite time.’ But he came to change
his mind and he sat on the building committee. He later resigned
because he felt the poor were not being given a fair share of the
church’s seating and there were no evening services for tradesmen.
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| Copyright © J.Middleton St Andrew's Church Road and St Andrew's Waterloo Street |
A pamphlet dated 3 March 1851
putting the case for the building of a new church was circulated in
Hove. It stated that the parish church (St Andrew’s Old Church) had
been rebuilt around sixteen years previously, the cost being met by a
charge on the parish ‘not yet wholly liquidated’. Although the
church contained 385 sittings nearly all of them were private seats.
An alteration of benches had not been much use to the poor as the
space had been given to the children of the National Schools. At the
other extremity of Hove there was a proprietary chapel (St Andrew’s,
Waterloo Street) and this only had 80 free sittings. In the proposed
new church half of the seats would be free.
Revd James O’Brien, who was
later to build St Patrick’s Church, wrote on 14 April 1851 offering
to endow the church, should the parish decide to build it, besides
giving from 50 to 100 seats either free or at a low rent.
Conveyances
In 1851 the site proposed for a
new church, formerly a brick field, was conveyed from Isaac Lyon
Goldsmid to Her Majesty’s Commission for Building New Churches ‘all
that piece of land being part of a farm called Wick Farm on
Hove situated at the west extremity of the road leading to Brighton
called New Western Road.’
On 31 July 1852 William Stanford
presented an additional piece of land, eight feet wide, immediately
south west of Goldsmid’s land. Stanford had told the churchwardens
of his intention in 1851.
Architects
Goldsmid continued to take an
interest in the project, making enquiries with Henry Piper, builder,
of 42 East Cheap, who replied on 8 November 1850 ‘we are just now
completing a Gothic Church at Camden Town size 80 feet by 60 feet
with galleries computed to seat 1,448 persons. I mention this as it
is near the size you gave me.’
Upperton wrote to Piper on 8 March
1851 specifying the ‘building must not go within eight feet of the
western side but it may come close up to the eastern side as also to
the footpath on the north and to the 8-foot slip of land not to be
built upon to the south. The idea is to build three parts of a
cross.’ It was hoped the proprietor of land on the west side would
give a piece of it to complete the cross. Piper replied that he was
happy to build to any design.
On 14 June 1851 Francis Dollman
wrote to Upperton that he was finding it difficult to arrange the
plans of the church to accommodate 900 people unless the
architectural character of the building was sacrificed. Upperton
replied at once that Piper had said there was no difficulty in
building on the site to the size required.
William Gilbert and Edward
Habershon, partners and brothers, were the architects. On 20 May 1851
the Habershons wrote to Upperton that they had just been to see the
Bishop of Chichester to show him and the Archdeacon drawings of the
proposed church.
On 1 December 1851 Gilbert
Habershon from 38 Bloomsbury Square wrote to Upperton ‘we have been
engaged in designing the west window – it required great care and
thought, as it now becomes so very important a feature in the church
– my brother will bring down our sketches tomorrow on the 9 o’clock
train.’
St Saviour or St John?
Apparently, the first choice of
dedication for the new church was St Saviour. But a lady resident in
the parish informed the authorities that in fact St Saviour was a
corruption of St Francis Xavier, a famous saint in the Roman Catholic
Church. Such a dedication would have horrified parishioners who were
down to earth Protestants. Then the choice became St John the
Baptist.
(It is interesting to note that a
church dedicated to St Saviour was built in the 1880s in Ditchling
Road, Brighton).
Costs
Even in such a short time the estimated costs were
rising rapidly. It was calculated that the church together with the
tower and spire would cost around £7,000. The Diocesan Association
for the Improvement of Churches gave a grant of £1,000. Revd
Frederick Reade of 41 Brunswick Terrace, who was to be the first
incumbent, donated £1,000 as well.
On 8 February 1853 a deed was drawn up between the
churchwardens, Upperton and Rigden, and Thomas Thornton for a loan of
£2,000 to be paid off in twenty years.
The rest of the money came from private
subscribers.
Indenture
On 19 March 1852 an indenture was
drawn up between Revd Walter Kelly, vicar of Hove, Robert Upperton
and William Marsh Rigden, churchwardens, and Sir George Augustus Westphal, Sir Richard Grant, John Hornblow Turner Esq., George
Stephen Butler Esq., and Revd Thomas Richard Rooper, with Henry
Constable of Penshurst to build St John’s Church ‘in a good,
lasting and workmanlike manner’ for £7,106-19-4d with the account
to be finally settled three years after completion.
Foundation Stone Laid
On 15 April 1852 the Bishop of
Chichester laid the foundation stone. He addressed a large crowd in
the open air and laid considerable emphasis on the fact that it was a
Jew – Isaac Lyon Goldsmid – who had donated the site for a
Christian church.
A scroll bearing the names of the
vicar, Revd Walter Kelly, the curate, Revd Frederick Reade, the
churchwardens, architects and builder, together with some coins of
the realm were placed in a glass bottle and inserted in the
foundations.
Building and Style
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| Copyright © J.Middleton The tower and spire look suitably impressive when viewed from the east side. The postcard was sent on 2 April 1905 to Miss E. Taylor in London by Harry who wrote it sitting on the beach |
St John’s was built in the early Decorated Style
of flint and Caen stone. The interior consisted of a chancel,
transepts, and clerestoried nave of four aisles.
The tower and spire were built in around 1870 of
Bath stone and stood at a height of 160 feet making it the loftiest
in Brighton and Hove. St John’s is fortunate in occupying one of
the finest church sites in Hove because it is clearly visible from
three sides and greatly adds to the townscape. Hove does not possess
many towers and spires; those supposed to adorn All Saints and St
Patrick’s were never built through lack of funds while in recent
times St Cuthbert’s with its impressive red-brick spire has been
demolished as well as Our Lady, Star of the Sea and St Denis with its
little green spire. However, the unique campanile-style tower of St
Joseph’s, Portland Road remains.
Edward Funnell of East Street,
Brighton supplied the tower clock, which was installed on 29 June
1872. The bell weighed 9 cwt, the striking hammer weighed 17lbs and
the 9-foot pendulum weighed 120lbs.
Dedication
When St John’s was nearing
completion a Naval lieutenant happened to be passing by, and seeing
the door open, he wandered in to have a look around. He was not
welcomed and instead he was asked to leave. He refused, the clerk of
the works was summoned and the lieutenant was forcibly ejected. This
event caused a considerable stir at the time.
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| Copyright © J.Middleton This photograph was taken in February 2009 showing the fine west window to advantage and the enlarged garden |
The church had 933 sittings of
which 475 were free.
Church Garden
A piece of land measuring 109 feet by 14 feet on
the west side of St John’s was acquired for the purpose of making a
larger garden on 22 August 1857. Avery Roberts, William Tanner and
Edward Stanford, trustees of the Stanford Estate, and Robert Upperton
and William Marsh Rigden, churchwardens, signed the agreement.
The church authorities thought a larger garden
would improve the approach to the church and the trustees were happy
about this, stating that the ‘erection of the handsome large window
and porch’ were made because of the express wishes of the late
William Stanford who deemed it was an improvement for the whole
neighbourhood.
Church Road Improvement
In November 1985 Revd W.E. Malahar agreed to set
back the iron fence on the north side of the church, providing Hove
Commissioners paid for the work, the cost of obtaining sanction from
the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, as well as placing asphalt paving
on the north and east sides.
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| Copyright © J.Middleton In the past Church Road ended at First Avenue and a line of posts prevented further vehicular access. By the time this postcard view was taken traffic could go from Church Road to Western Road unimpeded |
In June 1898 the Town Clerk was instructed to
enquire of the trustees of the Wick (formerly Goldsmid) Estate as to
whether or not some arrangement might be made for the removal of
posts across the highway on the north east corner of the church.
These posts were a celebrated feature of this part of Hove and
ensured there was no vehicular connection between Western Road and
Church Road. Perhaps no agreement was forthcoming. But in 1901 the
Borough Surveyor was told to inform the agent of the Wick Estate that
the posts were to be removed in order that wood paving blocks might
be laid.
Additions to the Church
In 1906 Messrs Rogers, Bone and Coles carried out
additions and alterations. In 1913 the Narthex of Doulton stone was
built together with a north east porch, vestry and classrooms.
The church has a trussed roof, which is an unusual
feature at Hove. The pulpit is an elaborate affair of white stone and
marble, richly sculptured.
A Fashionable Church Patronised by Royalty
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| Copyright © J.Middleton St John’s was once so popular that queues of people formed outside hoping there would be a spare seat for Sunday morning service |
St John’s quickly attained the status of a
fashionable church. In the 1860s the Duchess of Cambridge and
Princess Mary Adelaide (great-grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II)
attended services and much appreciated the standard of music provided
there. In fact, they sent Mr Gates a warm letter of appreciation,
praising him for his musical talents.
Henry Stephen Gates was organist at St John’s
from 1854 to 1894. Before that he had been organist at St Mark’s
Church, Brighton, where Revd Frederick Reade was incumbent. When
Reade moved to St John’s, Gates moved too and their working
association lasted for 44 years.
Princess Beatrice, youngest daughter of Queen
Victoria, visited St John’s too. Princess Beatrice was the dutiful
daughter who plodded through her mother’s diaries copying them but
discarding any details she considered unsuitable, to the great loss
of future historians.
Famous preachers such as Dean Inge (1860-1954)
also drew large congregations. It would be interesting to know how
his sermons went down in Hove because when he became Dean of St
Paul’s Cathedral he earned the unfortunate nickname of the ‘Gloomy
Dean’ his sermons being unremittingly pessimistic.
Despite the many seats, the church
was often full to overflowing for services. Consequently, it became
the practice to ring a bell five minutes before morning service was
about to begin. This signified that if someone who rented a pew were
absent, one of those waiting in the queue outside would be admitted
instead.
In 1920 Canon Flynn complained
about the noise buses made on Sundays and Hove Council requested
Tilling’s, the bus company, to endeavour to be quieter near St
John’s.
Henry Stephen Gates
His musical ability was not only recognised by
royalty but also by a wide circle. He received frequent invitations
to be musical director of various hunt balls, fancy dress balls,
military and Masonic events up and down the country as well as the
Lord Mayor’s banquets, balls at the Guildhall and Mansion House,
not to mention the Duke of Norfolk’s assemblies at Arundel Castle.
Gates was also kept busy playing
for a host of famous stars including Sims Reeves, Edward Lloyd,
Albani and Patti. He met Mendelssohn when Elijah was first
performed in London and Gates played first violin. Gates was a
composer too of both sacred and secular music. He was music master at
Hurstpierpoint College and Lancing College and taught at local
schools such as Dr White’s School in Hove Street.
Gates and his wife, who had been
educated at a convent, produced nine children. Henry was the eldest,
a handsome lad who inherited his father’s musical abilities but his
father was disappointed when Henry became a Roman Catholic priest and
joined the Dominican Order. He was even more upset when his daughters
Emma and Florence converted to Roman Catholicism and so did their
mother. The conversions caused a rift in the family and Gates refused
to have anything to do with his Catholic children.
Gates’s second son Arthur George
stayed within the Anglican fold but was something of a rebel trying
his hand at many occupations including playing in the orchestra of a
circus that travelled all round Europe. He lived at 17 Carlton
Terrace, Portslade. Another son Charles became a merchant sailor and
never married. Daughter Evelyn Gates also remained single but she
loved music. She was a violinist and conducted the orchestra at Hove Town Hall when the Green Room Players were performing their amateur
productions. She lived in Addison Road.
Characters
Colonel Barré Goldie was a churchwarden for many
years. He had enjoyed an arduous and honourable career serving with
the Royal Engineers in India. He retired to Hove where he lived for
30 years at 46 Selborne Road. He sat on the committee of the
Convalescent Police Seaside Home in Portland Road. Goldie died in
November 1922. His son 2nd Lieutenant Barré Herbert
Goldie died in the Great War and his name is engraved on the brass
memorial tablets at Hove Library.
Eric Choat (1904-1993) was organist at St John’s
Church from 1972 to 1981, and later on when he finally retired, he
had spent an astonishing 61 years as a church organist. But then he
did have music in his genes because his father had also been a
professional organist. Eric Choat was born in London, grew up in
Beckenham, and from the age of sixteen was playing the organ at
various churches in south London. He did not mind which denomination
of Christians he played for either, he was equally happy in Free
churches, Roman Catholic churches, or Anglican churches, although
when he was at Hove he tended to play mostly for Anglican ones.
Eric Choat was a man of small stature ( 5-ft 5-in)
but full of life and with a fund of anecdotes. When he and Muriel
were invited to a meal, his sense of humour was so infectious that
his hosts soon had tears of laughter running down their cheeks.
He did not restrict his musical enthusiasm to
churches, giving private lessons throughout his professional life,
and latterly at Ardingly College, as well as teaching various choirs
– male voice, girl’s and boy’s. He also composed some carols.
In 1930 he married Muriel Hodder, and the couple
had two daughters, Mary and Jennifer. During the Second World War he
served as an ARP Warden, then did a stint at an aircraft factory
before ending up in Norfolk at a residential school for Dr Barnado’s
boys called Watts Naval Training College, where he was organist.
In 1962 the Choats moved to Hove and lived in
Denmark Villas. It seems likely that he was organist at St Philip’s
Church, Aldrington, before moving to St John’s Church. The latter
became his spiritual home because he liked to worship there. He also
played at other local churches such as St Michael and All Angels,
Brighton, with his final post before retirement being at St Julian’s
Church, Kingston Buci.
Windows
East Window – The
original east window was noted as being a ‘favourable specimen of
Hardman’s work’. It depicted the life of St John the Baptist and
he also appeared in the central light. The subject of the other
lights were as follows:
Announcement of St John’s birth
to St Elizabeth
St John’s father Zechariah
stricken dumb
St John’s baptism in the River
Jordan
St John calls attention to Jesus
as the Lamb of God
St John reproofs Herod and his
queen
Beheading of St John in prison
This window was dismantled and
packed away in the 1930s. A new window was installed and Mrs Thomas
Cooper Smith donated it in memory of her husband who died in 1926.
Jesus was the main subject in the new window. Unfortunately, the
colours of the new window were somewhat pale in contrast to the vivid
colours of the original one. Historian Antony Dale considered it a
fine window but Dale always favoured the understated and had no love
for Victorian art or architecture.
West Window – This window
was also designed by John Hardman and no doubt was intended to
complement the east window. Jesus and the four evangelists are
depicted, each bearing his appropriate symbol. Once again, Hardman
employed rich colours and one sensitive soul found it all too much
writing its’ heavy purple colouring is only tolerable by midsummer
evening light.’ However, at least it is still in place.
In
May 2010 it was announced that St John’s, being a Grade II listed
building, had received a grant of no less than £151,000 from English
Heritage in order to repair and replace the crumbling stonework
around the west window. Today, the stonework and window is an
impressive sight indeed. (Argus
24/5/10)
Transepts – The windows
each have six lights. The north window is a copy of one to be found
in Heckington, Lincolnshire, and has an abstract design of vivid
colours.
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| Copyright © J.Middleton This view of Hove with St John’s dates from 1908 and the cab-stand on the left foreground strikes an interesting note |
Memorials
Basden – In loving memory
of Major General Charles Brenton Basden late 45th
Rattray’s Sikhs died November 28 1914 aged 91. For 22 years warden
of this church. A keen soldier, a friend to all who sought his aid. A
loving and beloved father. Also of Elsie wife of the above who died
January 11 1915 in her 84th year. This tablet is erected
by his three daughters. (Brass)
Bayley – To the Glory of
God and in honoured and ever treasured memory of my beloved husband
Colonel H.E.D. Bayley late Commandant 30th Madras Infantry
who fell asleep 1 July 1916. His whole life was a unique combination
of all that is lovely and of good report. I thank my God upon every
remembrance of thee. And in loving memory of Gertrude Ruding-Bayley
wife of the above who entered into rest on 28 January 1929. Father I
thank thee. (Decorated brass tablet with badge of Madras Infantry and
XXX Ava Afghanistan 1878-1880)
Cruickshank – In Memory
of Major James J.F. Cruickshank of the Bombay Engineers born at
Turreff, Aberdeenshire on 24 June 1810 died at Bombay on 24 May 1856
aged 45 years. He was a most Excellent Officer, distinguished for
Ability, Probity and Courtesy and is universally regretted. Erected
by his Attached Friend and Father-in-law James Henry Crawford.
Cruickshank – In memory
of Helen the beloved wife of Captain J.J.F. Cruickshank of the Bombay
Engineers and the affectionate and exemplary daughter through life of
James Henry Crawford Esq formerly of the Civil Service of that
Presidency, and now of this parish. Born at Bombay 15 April 1820 died
at Dharwar in the southern Mahratta Country 16 December 1851 aged 31
years; erected by her husband and father.
Holmes – In ever loving
memory of George Edward Holmes Major General Bengal Staff Corps died
at Hove 5 August 1892 aged 75 years.
Jervoise – In Memory of
Helen Jane the beloved wife of Alan Clarke Jervoise Esq Bombay Civil
Service and only daughter of Major J.J.F. Cruickshank Bombay
Engineers born at Brighton 18 October 1848 died at Carmar Bombay
Presidency 6 October 1872. Erected by her sorrowing brothers.
Waller – In loving memory
of Robert Jocelyn Waller Major 45th Rattray’s Sikhs
Indian Army died at Hove December 12 1919 aged 75 and of his wife
Mary Isabel who died also at Hove February 14 1925 aged 66. (Brass
tablet with motto Honor et Veritas)
Clergy
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Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
St John's steeple can be clearly seen in the centre of this 1972 aerial photograph, to the right are the formal gardens of Adelaide Crescent the open ground north of St John's Church is the Sussex County Cricket Ground |
Fisher – Many people will
remember the gentle and erudite Canon John Fisher who was a nephew of
Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury. Canon Fisher lived in a
flat in Brunswick Square owned by the Diocese of Chichester and St
John’s was the last church he served. He retired in 1981 at the age
of 71 and died on 27 December 1996 aged 87.
Flynn – Canon J.S. Flynn
came to St John’s in 1904 and stayed until 1922. He was a member of
the enlarged committee that deliberated upon a suitable memorial to
King Edward VII. On 26 October 1910 the committee passed a resolution
that a ‘permanent memorial of suitable dimensions’ should be
placed on the seafront boundary between Brighton and Hove and the
rest of the money should be expended on a home for the Queen’s
Nurses. Thus the famous Peace Statue was erected.
Jones – Canon John Jones
was still the incumbent of St John’s when he died on 30 August
1942. Revd H.F. Tomlinson was the next priest.
Jones – Strictly
speaking, Revd Kenneth W. Jones was the first vicar of St John’s
because on 25 February 1966 St John’s became a parish church; the
previous incumbents had been priests-in-charge. In 1969 Revd Jones
was elected as a Conservative member to Hove Council. But his fellow
councillors took a very dim view of the cleric when he went off on a
six-month exchange to a parish in New Mexico; they voted him off Hove
Council for non-attendance at meetings. While Jones was away, Canon
Donald Campbell looked after St John’s. Jones faced the problem of
a dwindling congregation by being in favour of a scheme to turn part
of the church into a community centre and upset his deputy
churchwarden in the process.
MacNutt – In 1922 Revd
Arthur Charles MacNutt became priest in charge at St John’s. He
caused some upset amongst the congregation because his tastes veered
towards the Anglo-Catholic tradition. Consequently, when he
introduced a cross and candles his flock were shocked and several
people left the church in disgust. MacNutt was instrumental in
establishing a Lady Chapel, which was in memory of his son who died
at the age of twelve. During his incumbency the choir gallery was
built and a new east window installed. He was still at St John’s in
1935.
Pratt – Revd Will Pratt
became vicar in 1983, taking over from Revd David Smith who had been
at St John’s since 1981. Revd Pratt was one of the church’s more
colourful characters and became Diocesan Publicity Officer. He was
often wheeled out to make comments on various issues. He also wrote
plays with a religious theme to try and bring Christianity to a wider
public.
Reade – Revd Frederick
Reade was the first incumbent at St John’s, his previous church
having been St Mary’s, Kemp Town. He also held the position of
chaplain to the Duke of Devonshire. Technically, he was a curate to
the vicar of Hove because St John’s did not achieve the status of a
parish church until 1966. Reade officiated at St John’s from 1854
to 1894 and he resolutely followed the path of low-church observance,
wearing a sombre black gown to take services. Other local churches
might embrace Anglo-Catholic practices but such a course was not to
be countenanced at St John’s.
Storr – The Hove
Gazette (10 September 1898) announced a new incumbent for St
John’s. Dr Storr sought to reassure his congregation by stating he
would introduce ‘nothing contrary to the tenets of the Evangelical
and Protestant Church of England’. He succeeded Revd W.E. Malahar
who had only stayed for four years.
Wilson – Revd Christine
Wilson was licensed to St John’s on 31 January 2002. In 1997 she
served as a deacon at St Peter’s Church, Henfield and the following
year was made a priest. She certainly made history because not only
was she the first female priest at St John’s but also the only
female priest serving in Brighton and Hove. She was in fact born and
brought up at Brighton before moving to Penzance with her family.
People were surprised to find that she was married with three
daughters aged 23, 21 and 17 plus she was a blonde and wore
fashionable clothes. She enjoyed working with young people and hoped
to attract some of them back to church. But it was difficult being a
pioneer with old prejudices still firmly entrenched. A woman in a dog
collar was a novelty and if she walked into a pub, the whole place
became quiet.
St John’s and Cornerstone Community Centre
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| Copyright © D.Sharp |
In September 1976 there were plans to turn part of
the church into a community centre. Although the vicar was in favour
of such a scheme, deputy churchwarden Cecil ‘Toby’ Watkins led
the campaign against it. By March 1981 the idea came closer to
fruition with plans to establish a day centre inside the church. This
would mean that the south aisle would be de-consecrated and walled
off from the rest of the church.
The scheme was expected to cost
£70,000 but in fact came to £80,000. East Sussex Social Services
and the Health Authority came up with the funding. The Day Centre
opened in April 1982 and more than 60 pensioners turned up on the
first day. Warden Mrs Wendy Tizzano ran the centre with the
assistance of volunteers. Hot snacks were available all day and there
were facilities for bathing, hairdressing and physiotherapy besides
there being arts and crafts activity and a library. When the Bishop
of Chichester visited two months later there were said to be an
average of 40 visitors a day.
In fact the Day Centre was such a
success that there were soon plans to reduce the worship space
further and create an area for more community activities. In April
1991 plans were unveiled for the extension and a major fund raising
campaign began. It was estimated the project would cost £260,000 and
Hove Council promised to provide £80,000. The plans included a large
space on the ground floor for group and youth activities, conference
rooms and two offices on the middle floor, plus a café and meeting
room on the top floor that would feature the original church beams
and there would be plenty of natural daylight. The project was called
the Cornerstone Community Centre. In November 1991 it was announced
that the National Church Urban Fund had donated £30,000; the appeal
having collected £111,000 so far.
In February 1992 it was stated
that East Sussex County Council would contribute £50,000. However,
it was now realised that the project would cost £300,000 and more
money needed to be raised before building work could start.
Hove architect Mark Hills drew up
the plans and in May 1992 the Royal Institute of British Architects
commended the scheme saying it was ‘imaginative, viable and
need-fulfilling community-led building initiative’.
In August 1995 staff at the Day
Centre decided to name their new interview room after Florrie
Sullivan nicknamed the Duchess of Brunswick who died in July aged 87;
a commemorative plaque was unveiled. Florrie Sullivan spent many
years working to help elderly folk marooned in lonely bed-sits in the
area.
In September 1995 there was
anxiety the centre might be threatened with closure under East Sussex
County Council’s proposal to make cuts of £7.5 million.
In November 1995 the Lottery
Charities Board donated a grant of £80,000 to the Cornerstone
Community, formed by the Brunswick Community Association earlier that
year. David Muddiman, project manager, said they would now be able to
finish off work on the top floor and provide better access for the
disabled.
In February 1998 a new drop-in
centre became available at the Cornerstone Community Centre for
people from ethnic backgrounds. Brighton & Hove Racial Equality
Service co-ordinated it and advice would be given on health, social
services, housing, employment, counselling and translating.
In November 2002 the café on the
top floor was re-launched with a cordon-bleu trained chef being
responsible for the food. It was intended to stage a variety of
exhibitions at the café with a new show every month. This venture
started off with Graham Smetham’s photographs of Brunswick
Festival.
In May 1998 Ivor Caplin, Hove’s
MP, officially opened the new Centre Café, the latest addition to
Brunswick Older People’s Project. The café was open Monday to
Friday from 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. and served cooked breakfasts,
lunches and afternoon teas. Also available were newspapers, cards and
board games.
On 9 January 1998 Radio Four’s
Any Questions was staged at St John’s. The panel included
David Mellor (former Conservative MP) Alan Howarth (Education and
Employment Minister) Simon Heffer (Sunday Times columnist) and
Anna Coote (from the Institute of Public Policy Research). Andrew
Burroughs, organiser and manager of Cornerstone, said they had waited
two years to stage the show.
On 25 October 1998 MPs Norman
Baker, David Lepper and Des Turner led an Any Questions session
on the United Nations.
Links:- St John the Baptist Church & Cornerstone Community Centre
Links:- St John the Baptist Church & Cornerstone Community Centre
Sources
Argus
Information about Eric Choat kindly supplied by
Colin Prohasky
J.Middleton Encyclopaedia of Hove and
Portslade
The Keep
PAR 387/10/49/1-25 – relating to
the design 1850-1851
PAR 387/10/50/1-5 – letters from
Baron Goldsmid about proposed church site
PAR 387/10/50/57-58
PAR 387/10/50/62/1
PAR 387/10/72 – resolution of
the Vestry 1852
PAR 387/10/85 – contract to
erect church
PAR 387/70/1-2
PAR 387/70/71-73
Copyright © J.Middleton 2017
page layout by D.Sharp
page layout by D.Sharp