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St Saviour's  Eastbourne: Brief Chronology

 

1797 George Whelpton is born at Thimbleby in Lincolnshire
1835 Whelptons Pills established at Louth. George invests his profits with considerable success in railways, banking and housing developments. George Whelpton and Son is a well known 'patent medicine' manufacturer for more than a century.
1833 Henry Robert Whelpton, George's youngest son is born at Louth. He is educated privately and at St John's College, Cambridge.
1858 H. R. Whelpton is ordained Priest at St Paul's Cathedral. He is an assistant curate at Shoreditch, London followed by appointments in Slough and Salisbury.
1863 Iron Church opened, sited on the present Hardwick Road/South Street eastern corner. It was used to relieve overcrowding at Holy Trinity Church.
1865 H.R. Whelpton moves to Eastbourne with his family in the spring to prepare for the new District Church. It will be paid for by his father who is now living in retirement at Hastings. Foundation stone laid on 17th October by William Thompson Whelpton brother of Henry Robert Whelpton.
1866 Temporary church dismantled at end of summer visitors season.
1867 Consecration of the new church on 31st January by the Bishop of Chichester. A 'District Chapelry' of Saint Saviour is established within the ancient Parish of St Mary the Virgin, Eastbourne
1870s Internal decoration begins, continuing until the early 20th Century. It is funded by individual benefactors and gifts from the congregation.
1872 Steeple completes George Edmund Street's original design.
1878 Saint Peter's chapel of ease opened at back of present Town Hall. The choir school is established, continuing until 1937.
1874 Day school founded serving children living locally until the Second World War.
1892 Full Parish status achieved. Saint Saviour's is now independent of Saint Mary's.
1896 Permanent Saint Peter's Church opened in Meads Road. Two separate 'New Parishes' have now been create
1903 Chapel opened leading off south aisle.
1920 Sacrament house completed
1937 New reredos is dedicated. It is a memorial to Henry Urling Whelpton, second Incumbent, son of the first Vicar.
1940s Wartime bombing. Most of the glass is destroyed. The organ is severely damaged
1943 Keble College, Oxford becomes Patron of the Living after a transfer from the Whelpton family.
1950s Restoration of war damage. Organ repositioned at West end.1957 Church room opened.
1971 Parishes combined. Saint Peter's is demolished. Redman King House now occupies the site.
1980s Reordering of the Sanctuary commences, reflecting changes in the Liturgy. A permanent reordering, including a Nave altar, is completed in 1993 as a memorial to Derek William Allen, Vicar 1976-1991.
1990s Restoration of the Victorian internal decoration begins.
2000s Refurbishment of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel as a memorial to John Baxter, former verger

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