Churches - Bevendean History Project
Salvation Army Hall at Bevendean
The original Lower Bevendean Evangelical Free Church is now used by the Salvation Army.
Plans for a Christian Fellowship Centre in Leybourne Road, Lower Bevendean were approved by Brighton Town Council on the 16th of April 1957. The architects drawing below shows how the building was expected to look upon completion.
Keep Ref: DB/D/139/57/1/419
The plan below includes the layout of the interior showing 2 cloakrooms, 3 class rooms in addition to the main hall.
Keep Ref: DB/D/139/57/1/419/1
Here is the report from the Brighton & Hove Herald on 24 August 1957 reporting the dedication of the church in Bevendean.
A large gathering of devout worshippers, among them many children, assembled beneath the very modern pre-cast concrete roof spans to sing their praises and to pray for the successful completion of the building.
The concrete framework of the new church makes a very modern setting for this "Herald" picture of Saturday's dedication service.
Another modern touch, so very far removed from the days of King David and Solomon, was the electrically operated platform of the Eric Hutchings' mobile evangelistic unit, lent for the occasion by the Brighton Christian Business Men's Association.
On the platform, high above the congregation, stood. Mr Keith T. Philcox, secretary of the Lower Bevendean Christian Fellowship, Mr S. Ray Stammers, hon. treasurer of the Fellowship's building fund, and Mr A. J. Atkins, of Bromley, Kent.
Mr Philcox, in welcoming the congregation and visitors, said the Fellowship had been seeking to serve the spiritual needs of the estate for the past six years and they had been praying that one day they would be able to erect a building for public worship. ‘Today we are witnessing the answer to our prayers’ said Mr Philcox.
The sum of £6,000 had been required to purchase the land and erect and equip the building. Of that sum 64,760 had been given by individuals in both large and small amounts. The Fellowship and its trustees in June this year felt confident that the remainder of the sum would soon be realised and the builders were asked to commence the work which has been progressing apace ever since.
Mr Atkins read from-the First Book of Chronicles how Solomon was charged with the building of the temple and how he was to call upon the workmen — hewers and workers of stone and timber—and get the building ready for occupation.
The congregation sang hymns before the short, but impressive, service ended.
The Salvation Army Hall in Leybourne Road at Lower Bevendean in 2009.
Ref: 2009-03-12_Salvation Army Bevendean © Wikipedia.
The building was previously used as the Lower Bevendean Evangelical Free Church and has been used by the Salvation Army since 1970.
Some of the officers who have looked after the salvation army hall include: -
1987 – 1989 Envoy Shiela Tarrent
1990 – 1992 Envoys Teofilo & Philippa Chagas (28th May)
1993 - Aux - Captains William & Diana Merrit
1998 - 2002 (Envoy) Major Pauline Fingland
2005 Captain (Major) Penfold
2009 Major Rosemary Randall
2013 Envoy Gordon Lewis
2018 - 2019 Envoy Portia Mack
2019 (Brother Drew Tinsley)
The hall photographed in May 2020 from the pavement in Leybourne Road.
Ref: 2020-05-24_P1050178c
The exterior of the hall photographed in January 2024 from the pavement in Leybourne Road. Ref: 2024-01-14_IMG_0119c
The interior photographed towards the stage in February 2024.
Ref: 2024-02-11_IMG_0299
The interior photographed towards the entrance in February 2024.
Ref: 2024-02-11_IMG_0301
More photographs and plans
Link to Salvation Army website for more information: -
https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/brighton-bevendean
If you can add any more to this story, please use the contact form on the website.
Plans for a Christian Fellowship Centre in Leybourne Road, Lower Bevendean were approved by Brighton Town Council on the 16th of April 1957. The architects drawing below shows how the building was expected to look upon completion.
Keep Ref: DB/D/139/57/1/419
The plan below includes the layout of the interior showing 2 cloakrooms, 3 class rooms in addition to the main hall.
Keep Ref: DB/D/139/57/1/419/1
Here is the report from the Brighton & Hove Herald on 24 August 1957 reporting the dedication of the church in Bevendean.
LOWER BEVENDEAN CHURCH DEDICATED
DAVID AND SOLOMON QUOTED IN ULTRA MODERN SETTING
The charge of King David to Solomon his son before Solomon
commenced building the temple in Jerusalem was quoted under very
appropriate circumstances at Brighton, at the week end. It was made on
the occasion of the dedication of the new church being erected in
Leybourne Road, Lower Bevendean, by the Lower Bevendean Christian
Fellowship.DAVID AND SOLOMON QUOTED IN ULTRA MODERN SETTING
A large gathering of devout worshippers, among them many children, assembled beneath the very modern pre-cast concrete roof spans to sing their praises and to pray for the successful completion of the building.
The concrete framework of the new church makes a very modern setting for this "Herald" picture of Saturday's dedication service.
Another modern touch, so very far removed from the days of King David and Solomon, was the electrically operated platform of the Eric Hutchings' mobile evangelistic unit, lent for the occasion by the Brighton Christian Business Men's Association.
On the platform, high above the congregation, stood. Mr Keith T. Philcox, secretary of the Lower Bevendean Christian Fellowship, Mr S. Ray Stammers, hon. treasurer of the Fellowship's building fund, and Mr A. J. Atkins, of Bromley, Kent.
Mr Philcox, in welcoming the congregation and visitors, said the Fellowship had been seeking to serve the spiritual needs of the estate for the past six years and they had been praying that one day they would be able to erect a building for public worship. ‘Today we are witnessing the answer to our prayers’ said Mr Philcox.
The sum of £6,000 had been required to purchase the land and erect and equip the building. Of that sum 64,760 had been given by individuals in both large and small amounts. The Fellowship and its trustees in June this year felt confident that the remainder of the sum would soon be realised and the builders were asked to commence the work which has been progressing apace ever since.
Mr Atkins read from-the First Book of Chronicles how Solomon was charged with the building of the temple and how he was to call upon the workmen — hewers and workers of stone and timber—and get the building ready for occupation.
The congregation sang hymns before the short, but impressive, service ended.
The Salvation Army Hall in Leybourne Road at Lower Bevendean in 2009.
Ref: 2009-03-12_Salvation Army Bevendean © Wikipedia.
The building was previously used as the Lower Bevendean Evangelical Free Church and has been used by the Salvation Army since 1970.
Some of the officers who have looked after the salvation army hall include: -
1987 – 1989 Envoy Shiela Tarrent
1990 – 1992 Envoys Teofilo & Philippa Chagas (28th May)
1993 - Aux - Captains William & Diana Merrit
1998 - 2002 (Envoy) Major Pauline Fingland
2005 Captain (Major) Penfold
2009 Major Rosemary Randall
2013 Envoy Gordon Lewis
2018 - 2019 Envoy Portia Mack
2019 (Brother Drew Tinsley)
The hall photographed in May 2020 from the pavement in Leybourne Road.
Ref: 2020-05-24_P1050178c
The exterior of the hall photographed in January 2024 from the pavement in Leybourne Road. Ref: 2024-01-14_IMG_0119c
The interior photographed towards the stage in February 2024.
Ref: 2024-02-11_IMG_0299
The interior photographed towards the entrance in February 2024.
Ref: 2024-02-11_IMG_0301
More photographs and plans
Link to Salvation Army website for more information: -
https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/brighton-bevendean
If you can add any more to this story, please use the contact form on the website.
