Eastbourne: St Philip
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 616 0
The Church of St Philip was demolished in 2005, the congregation now meets in a church hall built on the same site. The information on this page describes the old church.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
6-bay nave with narrow side passages, 3-bay chancel with flanking vestries.
Dimensions:
Nave 34.5m (105 feet) x 13m (40ft).
Description of Archaeology and History
Begun in 1904-5 to designs by C E Powell of London, but never completed. Specifically, the aisles were never widened as intended, leaving an odd prospect with the aisle roofs at a very steep angle over the narrow side passages, carried down almost to ground level. A planned porch and fleche were also left on the drawing board due to lack of funds. A glass and brick north-west porch with a loggia connecting it to the church hall adjacent to the church was added to the north aisle, part of a re-ordering and refurbishment program undertaken in 1973.
Exterior Description
A simple building, basically a long tall brick box. The architectural style is plain and defined by the tall pointed lancets. The south vestry range with its double gable and tall chimney is perhaps the most eye-catching feature of the church, the gables pierced by single lancets with domestic square-headed two-lights in the side walls and doorways in the same style.
The west wall is plain, pierced by five tall stepped lancets. The aisles and clearstoreys have small rectangular domestic windows, the clearstorey windows arranged alternately as single lights and pairs in the chancel and three-lights in the nave. The sanctuary is lit by one tall lancet in the side walls and a stepped three-light lancet window in the east wall, the latter with stained glass.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
20th century 6-bay
Chancel
20th century 3-bay
Vestry
20th century flanking chancel
Building Materials
Brick
20th century stock, exposed
Pine
20th century pitched
Slate
20th century roof covering
Brick
20th century red, dressings
Stone
20th century gabled nave roof kneelers
Interior
Interior Description
Entering the church through the north-west porch, one is surprised by the space within. The aisle arcades are pointed and of two stepped orders, executed in brick, springing without capitals from (in section) cross-shaped brick piers. The chancel arch is a larger version of these. The clearstorey windows are also articulated in the same way, under depressed rere-arches.
There is much oak panelling at the east and west ends. The vista to the east was changed by the insertion of an oak screen across the chancel arch and a dais with nave altar in front, the chancel behind now used as a Lady chapel. The choir stalls were relocated behind the nave altar.
The north vicar’s vestry was previously used as a Lady chapel. It has two pairs of lancets with stained glass reflecting this function and more plain oak panelling around the walls. It now contains domestic furniture and a piano.
The nave roof is of straightforward arch-braced construction, with a barrel vault ceiling in the chancel. The nave floors are of woodblock, with encaustic tiles in the chancel.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century The high altar is a simple oak table. Nave altar, modern table in light wood, c 1970.
Reredos
20th century Oak panelling with blind tracery behind the High altar, given in 1949 in memory of Canon Corbett. Panelling with gilded cornice relocated across the chancel arch as a reredos for the nave altar, formerly lining the sanctuary walls, donated by H Alston 1908. The rood hanging above the nave altar came from the grave of the church’s architect C E Powell, relocated from Arlington graveyard in 1980.
Pulpit
20th century Hexagonal oak pulpit with blind tracery, donated by H Alston 1908.
Lectern
20th century Simple oak lectern, 1951.
Font (component)
20th century Concrete octagonal font, with wooden cover.
Stained Glass (window)
20th century In the east window and vicar’s vestry windows. The east window has Christ in Glory surrounded by warrior saints, dedicated as a War Memorial (installed 1921, work of H G Murray of London). The vestry windows have St George and St Philip, the Virgin and Child, the Good Shepherd and the Angels of the Resurrection and the Annunciation. The windows are dated to the 1930’s, donated by Mrs A Harding.
Plaque (component)
20th century Several standard brass plaques commemorating parishioners.
Organ (component)
20th century Two manual pipe organ with 14 stops by Kirklands, also donated by H Alston in 1908, repaired and fitted with electrical action in 1980. The exposed pipes fill the two pointed arches opening from the chancel into the vicar’s vestry.
Inscribed Object
20th century World War I memorial mounted on the chancel arch, erected at the same time as the east window.
Rail
20th century Tripartite hinged oak rail with open tracery, donated in 1949 in memory of Canon Francis Corbett, incumbent 1916 until his death in 1947 as detailed on the rails themselves. Rails in front of the nave altar, catalogue c 1970.
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers: marriages and baptisms from 1928.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 616 0
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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