St Leonard's Church, Aldrington
Encyclopedia
St Leonard's Church is an Anglican
church in Hove
, in the English
city of Brighton and Hove. It is on New Church Road in the Aldrington
area of Hove, which was previously a separate village, and it serves as Aldrington's parish church
. The church was on Church Road but now stands on New Church Road, renamed in reference to the other church (St Philip's
) which was started in 1894.
, near the mouth of the River Adur
. Over time the course of the river changed, and the population gradually fell; damage caused to houses in the Great Storm of 1703
increased the rate of decline, and the area was totally depopulated by 1800. A mediaeval parish church, built in the 13th century with a tower, chancel
and nave
, existed on a site to the northeast of Aldrington's only road. This started to fall into disrepair in the 16th century, however, and was in ruins by 1638, with the walls collapsing soon after 1800.
The rapid residential development of Hove in the early and mid-19th century revived Aldrington. As demand for land and housing grew, development spread westwards and Church Road — the continuation of the main east–west route through Hove and Brighton — was extended from the edge of Aldrington into Portslade. In the sixty years from 1875, all of the land to the south of Church Road was developed with housing, and the opening of Aldrington railway station
to the north stimulated growth in its vicinity. The parish of Aldrington officially became part of Hove in 1893, being incorporated within its district. The following year, the section of Church Road west of Hove Street was renamed New Church Road after plans for the construction of St Philip's Church
were agreed.
St Leonard's church remained in its ruined state until 1878, when architect Richard Carpenter
(the son of Richard Cromwell Carpenter
, designer of St Paul's Church
in Brighton) was chosen to rebuild it. He incorporated parts of the tower and south aisle into the new design, which was a reproduction of the mediaeval style — in particular through the use of lancet window
s and knapped flintwork. The new tower included six bells.
Another major rebuilding took place in 1936, to increase the capacity of the church. Harold Milburn-Pett, architect for the Diocese of Chichester
, undertook this work. The building was widened significantly: the original nave was turned into an aisle, and a new nave and chancel were built on the north side. A northern aisle was never added, although there were plans to do so; the northern exterior wall of the church, intended as a temporary structure, is therefore different in style from the other walls, being in red brick rather than knapped flint. (As with the first rebuilding, the 1936 work used knapped flintwork.) In the same year a spire
was added to the tower for the first time. New lancet windows were installed at various times after World War II
, as was a lychgate
on the southern side. The church was listed as Grade II in 1950.
The ashes of actor C. Aubrey Smith are interred in his mother's grave in the churchyard of St Leonard's.
and Aldrington stations, and extends north of the railway to include the whole of Hove Cemetery. This originally opened in 1882, and was later extended on to the former trackbed of the Devil's Dyke Railway.
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
church in Hove
Hove
Hove is a town on the south coast of England, immediately to the west of its larger neighbour Brighton, with which it forms the unitary authority Brighton and Hove. It forms a single conurbation together with Brighton and some smaller towns and villages running along the coast...
, in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
city of Brighton and Hove. It is on New Church Road in the Aldrington
Aldrington
Aldrington is the name of an area of the city of Brighton and Hove, previously part of the old borough of Hove. For centuries it was meadow land along the English Channel stretching west from the old village of Hove to the old mouth of the River Adur, and it is now a prosperous residential area...
area of Hove, which was previously a separate village, and it serves as Aldrington's parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
. The church was on Church Road but now stands on New Church Road, renamed in reference to the other church (St Philip's
St Philip's Church, Hove
St Philip's Church is an Anglican church in Hove, in the English city of Brighton and Hove. Opened in 1895 and consecrated in 1898 on New Church Road, on a site close to Aldrington's parish church of St Leonard's, it has come under threat of closure but is still active as of 2009...
) which was started in 1894.
History
Aldrington developed in the mediaeval period as a small village between Hove, to the east, and the original (inland) settlement at PortsladePortslade
Portslade is the name of an area of the city of Brighton and Hove, England. Portslade Village, the original settlement a mile inland to the north, was built up in the 16th century...
, near the mouth of the River Adur
River Adur
The Adur is a river in Sussex, England; it gives its name to the Adur district of West Sussex. The river was formerly navigable for large vessels up as far as Steyning, where there was a large port, but over time the river valley became silted up and the port moved down to the deeper waters nearer...
. Over time the course of the river changed, and the population gradually fell; damage caused to houses in the Great Storm of 1703
Great Storm of 1703
The Great Storm of 1703 was the most severe storm or natural disaster ever recorded in the southern part of Great Britain. It affected southern England and the English Channel in the Kingdom of Great Britain...
increased the rate of decline, and the area was totally depopulated by 1800. A mediaeval parish church, built in the 13th century with a tower, chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
and nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
, existed on a site to the northeast of Aldrington's only road. This started to fall into disrepair in the 16th century, however, and was in ruins by 1638, with the walls collapsing soon after 1800.
The rapid residential development of Hove in the early and mid-19th century revived Aldrington. As demand for land and housing grew, development spread westwards and Church Road — the continuation of the main east–west route through Hove and Brighton — was extended from the edge of Aldrington into Portslade. In the sixty years from 1875, all of the land to the south of Church Road was developed with housing, and the opening of Aldrington railway station
Aldrington railway station
Aldrington railway station, sometimes known by its former names of Aldrington Halt and Dyke Junction, is a railway station in Hove, in East Sussex, England...
to the north stimulated growth in its vicinity. The parish of Aldrington officially became part of Hove in 1893, being incorporated within its district. The following year, the section of Church Road west of Hove Street was renamed New Church Road after plans for the construction of St Philip's Church
St Philip's Church, Hove
St Philip's Church is an Anglican church in Hove, in the English city of Brighton and Hove. Opened in 1895 and consecrated in 1898 on New Church Road, on a site close to Aldrington's parish church of St Leonard's, it has come under threat of closure but is still active as of 2009...
were agreed.
St Leonard's church remained in its ruined state until 1878, when architect Richard Carpenter
Richard Carpenter (architect)
Richard Herbert Carpenter was an eminent Victorian architect from England.Richard was born 1841 in St. Pancras, London, Middlesex, England and died in 1893...
(the son of Richard Cromwell Carpenter
Richard Cromwell Carpenter
Richard Cromwell Carpenter was an English architect. He is chiefly remembered as an ecclesiastical and tractarian architect working in the Gothic style.-Family:...
, designer of St Paul's Church
St Paul's Church, Brighton
St Paul's Church, dedicated to the missionary and Apostle to the Gentiles Paul of Tarsus, is a Church of England parish church in Brighton in the English county of Sussex. It is located on West Street in the city centre, close to the seafront and the main shopping areas.-History and...
in Brighton) was chosen to rebuild it. He incorporated parts of the tower and south aisle into the new design, which was a reproduction of the mediaeval style — in particular through the use of lancet window
Lancet window
A lancet window is a tall narrow window with a pointed arch at its top. It acquired the "lancet" name from its resemblance to a lance. Instances of this architectural motif are most often found in Gothic and ecclesiastical structures, where they are often placed singly or in pairs.The motif first...
s and knapped flintwork. The new tower included six bells.
Another major rebuilding took place in 1936, to increase the capacity of the church. Harold Milburn-Pett, architect for the Diocese of Chichester
Diocese of Chichester
The Diocese of Chichester is a Church of England diocese based in Chichester, covering Sussex. It was created in 1075 to replace the old Diocese of Selsey, which was based at Selsey Abbey from 681. The cathedral is Chichester Cathedral and the bishop is the Bishop of Chichester...
, undertook this work. The building was widened significantly: the original nave was turned into an aisle, and a new nave and chancel were built on the north side. A northern aisle was never added, although there were plans to do so; the northern exterior wall of the church, intended as a temporary structure, is therefore different in style from the other walls, being in red brick rather than knapped flint. (As with the first rebuilding, the 1936 work used knapped flintwork.) In the same year a spire
Spire
A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, particularly a church tower. Etymologically, the word is derived from the Old English word spir, meaning a sprout, shoot, or stalk of grass....
was added to the tower for the first time. New lancet windows were installed at various times after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, as was a lychgate
Lychgate
A lychgate, also spelled lichgate, lycugate, or as two separate words lych gate, is a gateway covered with a roof found at the entrance to a traditional English or English-style churchyard.-Name:...
on the southern side. The church was listed as Grade II in 1950.
The ashes of actor C. Aubrey Smith are interred in his mother's grave in the churchyard of St Leonard's.
Parish
The area served by the parish covers Aldrington. It includes all residential streets in the area bounded by Wish Road, the sea, Boundary Road/Station Road and the railway line between PortsladePortslade railway station
Portslade railway station is a railway station serving the town of Portslade-by-Sea in East Sussex, but located on the western fringes of the village of Aldrington ....
and Aldrington stations, and extends north of the railway to include the whole of Hove Cemetery. This originally opened in 1882, and was later extended on to the former trackbed of the Devil's Dyke Railway.