Churches - Bevendean History Project
Opening of All Souls’ Church in Brighton
This church was consecrated on Tuesday (8th April 1934).
The Brighton Gazette gives the following brief outline of the circumstances under which it was erected: - About 12 months ago the attention of the public was drawn to the inadequacy of church accommodation for the poor in Brighton. A census was instituted and the poor population of the parish was found to consist of about 18,000, exclusive of servants, of bedridden persons and of children under the age of five years.
The free sittings in all the places of public worship belonging to the Establishment were 3,590.
A committee was formed, and application having been made to the Society for the Enlargement and Building of Churches and Chapels, the board of that association voted a grant of 500.
This was followed by a munificent donation on the part of Mr. LAURENCE PEEL of 290 guineas; and the clergy, one and all, much to their honour, made themselves responsible to a lady for a loan of 1000 which she kindly consented to advance for the promotion of this good work. These examples were not without effort, as the printed circular now in our hands abundantly testifies. The high, as well as the humbly contributed. Offerings were made by the poor of Pimlico, by the fish-men, by the charity schools by privates of the 1st Dragoon Guards.
The altar and the reading desk were not forgotten.
Anonymous and liberal presents of sacramental plate, Bible and Prayer Books, were sent to the Vicarage. The fees of Registrar of the Diocese, and of two professional legal gentlemen residing in Brighton, most generously resigned, deserve to be included in these acts of bounty.
From: John Bull on Sunday 13th April 1834
The Brighton Gazette gives the following brief outline of the circumstances under which it was erected: - About 12 months ago the attention of the public was drawn to the inadequacy of church accommodation for the poor in Brighton. A census was instituted and the poor population of the parish was found to consist of about 18,000, exclusive of servants, of bedridden persons and of children under the age of five years.
The free sittings in all the places of public worship belonging to the Establishment were 3,590.
A committee was formed, and application having been made to the Society for the Enlargement and Building of Churches and Chapels, the board of that association voted a grant of 500.
This was followed by a munificent donation on the part of Mr. LAURENCE PEEL of 290 guineas; and the clergy, one and all, much to their honour, made themselves responsible to a lady for a loan of 1000 which she kindly consented to advance for the promotion of this good work. These examples were not without effort, as the printed circular now in our hands abundantly testifies. The high, as well as the humbly contributed. Offerings were made by the poor of Pimlico, by the fish-men, by the charity schools by privates of the 1st Dragoon Guards.
The altar and the reading desk were not forgotten.
Anonymous and liberal presents of sacramental plate, Bible and Prayer Books, were sent to the Vicarage. The fees of Registrar of the Diocese, and of two professional legal gentlemen residing in Brighton, most generously resigned, deserve to be included in these acts of bounty.
From: John Bull on Sunday 13th April 1834
