HTH Heritage

The Gin Shop

Henry Cousins, the author of Hastings of Bygone Days and the Present, records “there was a gin shop called the Blacksmith’s Arms on the site of Holy Trinity Church.” The Pub was run by William Woolgar who also ran Woolgar’s Smithy next door.

The America Ground

The Crown established the right to the America Ground, a piece of land once belonging to the Augustinian Priory of the Holy trinity (where Priory meadow derives its name). The land was settled by itinerant builders employed to help with the development of the new town of St Leonards. The builders constructed shacks on the land which was also used as a ropewalk. It was so named when those itinerants refused to leave hoisting the American flag in the name of liberty and in a gesture of defiance.

St Michael’s Church

The previous parish church of St Michael was dismantled from its place up behind White Rock to make way for the building of a new Coastguard Station. Before the new church was named after the Holy Trinity, plans had been made for it to be the new St Michael’s church. There is a nod to this potential nomenclature in the detailed stone carving of St Michael over the Lady Chapel.

Plans for a new church begin

Mr George Curling Hope and Rev. DG Quintin, supported by the benefactor Countess Waldegrave, call a meeting to consider providing a new church for the rapidly growing population.

Foundation stone

On the 22nd July, the first foundation stone was laid by the philanthropist Sarah Waldegrave (the photo above is of this moment, the earliest known photogr,ph of Hastings) who was married to the 8th earl of Waldegrave. She gave £1000 to help pay for its founding (the equivalent of £116,500 in today’s money).

The Architect was Samuel Sanders Teulon, who was famous for his prominent Gothic Revival style.

The new Church opens

The newly built parish Church of the Holy Trinity was opened for worship, with the Rev Dr T F Crosse installed as the first Vicar. At this time, only the Nave had been consecrated and was used for worship whilst the chancel was still in construction until it’s completion the following year.

Sunday schools & Storms

Under the incumbency of Rev Crosse: a Sunday school was started (1860), a new drinking fountain was consecrated on the east end of the building and the chancel was opened in the same year (1862), pew rents were abolished (1872), the West Window was installed (1880), the suffered some damage in the Great Storm (1884), and an appeal for funding to complete the tower was issued (1884).

Crafty additions

Upon his death, Dr Crosse was succeeded by Rev Robert E Sanderson under whose incumbency new electric lighting was installed (1889), a Rood Screen crafted by a Ghent woodworker was installed and sculptor Thomas Earp carved the ornate chancel arch (1890), the first Parish magazine was published (1891), the octagonal vestry (now the church office) was built on the east end of the building by architect W.H. Romaine-Walker (1892), the organ was enlarged in (1896), and the new alabaster pulpit was dedicated (1898).

The “Undergound” Missal

With Rev Henry E Victor taking over the incumbency of Holy Trinity Hastings the side altar in the chapel below the organ was dedicated (1901), the church’s infamous Missal - an illuminated text used for worship services - designed by calligrapher Edward Johnston was first used (1902), the existing font was recarved and the new font canopy was dedicated (1903), the aforementioned chapel was dedicated in honour of St Mary, the mother of Jesus (1908).

Remembrance

The Rev Thomas W Cook - who would become the next Suffragan Bishop of Lewes - took over as vicar and inquiries were made to finishing the tower which would never be completed (1912), the war memorial on the western end of the church was dedicated (1920).

Steady decline

Over the next several decades the church was maintained by the Rev E G Reid (under whose tenure the organ was enlarged - 1932), the Rev J C Poole, the Rev Roy W Dawes (under whose tenure the church was listed Grace C by English Heritage - 1976), the Rev D Taylor (under whose tenure the organ was restored - 1981), and the Rev Colin Tolworthy (under whose tenure the building was listed as Grade II* by English heritage - 2001). Over these last few decades the church underwent a significant period of decline.

A new lease of life for HTH Church

After a four year interregnum - in which time the congregation dropped to a small handful of people - Sarah & Simon Larkin, at the request of Bishop of Chichester, came with a small planting team of around 20 people from St Peter’s Church in Brighton, to revitalise the church.