St Leonards-on-Sea Congregational Church

St Leonards-on-Sea Congregational Church
The church from the east
50°51′17″N 0°33′33″E / 50.8548°N 0.5591°E / 50.8548; 0.5591
Location	London Road/Pevensey Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings, East Sussex
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Congregational Federation
History
Former name(s)	St Leonards Congregational Church
Status	Church
Founded	1863
Founder(s)	James Griffin
Consecrated	1864
Events	1864: Opened as St Leonards-on-Sea Congregational Church 1987: Building damaged in the Great Storm 2002: Last service 2008: Officially closed
Architecture
Functional status	Disused
Heritage designation	Grade II
Designated	10 September 2003
Architect(s)	Edward Habershon but credited to William Habershon
Style	Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	1863
Completed	1864
Closed	2008
Specifications
Number of spires	1 (until 1987)
Materials	Local sandstone

St Leonards-on-Sea Congregational Church is a former Congregational church in St Leonards-on-Sea, part of the town and borough of Hastings in East Sussex, England. Considered "one of the most ambitious Nonconformist buildings in Sussex", the sandstone building of 1863 forms a significant landmark on one of the Victorian resort's main roads—despite the loss of its copper spire in the Great Storm of 1987. Unlike most churches of its denomination, it did not join the United Reformed Church when that denomination was formed in 1972. It fell out of religious use in 2008 and had stood empty and was at risk of demolition. English Heritage has listed the building at Grade II for its architectural and historical importance. Bought by a new owner in 2012 it was almost completely renovated, but was then sold again in 2019. The new owner originally planned to open the church to the public as an arts and antiques centre with a cafe in the tower.^[1] After 5 years carefully and painstakingly renovating the building to its original glory, the lower church hall was finally re-opened to the public on 6 April 2024 as an indoor Saturday Market selling vintage and collectable items. The new owner now plans to open the main 'Great Hall' upstairs as a registered wedding venue by July 2024.