| By the
middle of the nineteenth century, Eastbourne was a growing town
noted for its healthy climate. The railway had arrived in 1849 and
an increasing number of people were choosing to live in the town or
spend their holidays here. The Duke of Devonshire, who owned much of
the land, was laying out a new town with wide streets, italianate
terraces and fashionable villas. The old parish church of St Mary
the Virgin was at some distance from the new town so the Duke gave
land for the building of a new church which was completed in 1867.
The architect was George Edmund
Street RA who designed many churches at the time when the Church of
England was rediscovering its Catholic heritage through the Oxford
Movement. Hence the design of the church emphasises the centrality
of the eucharist, surrounding the altar with glorious decoration in
the form of colourful mosaics and fine stained glass windows
|
|
 Two local
benefactors, Harriot Manby and George Whelpton provided the money to
build the new church, on the stipulation that Whelpton's son Henry
should become its first vicar. On 31st January 1867 the Bishop of
Chichester consecrated Eastbourne's new Church of the Holy Saviour
amid splendid ceremony and excitement.
In 1971 the nearby daughter church
of St Peter's was demolished and the two parishes were combined as
Saint Saviour's and Saint Peter's Eastbourne. A statue of St Peter
is now installed in a chapel dedicated to his name to celebrate the
memory of this former church and its faithful worshippers.
St Peter's Chapel and the Blessed
Sacrament Chapel were beautifully refurbished and rededicated in
October 2001, largely through the generous bequest of John Baxter,
former verger.
Click here for a brief Chronology
Guide
Books with many beautiful colour photographs may be purchased from
S. Saviour's Bookstall, South Street, Eastbourne, price £2.50
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