Churches - Bevendean History Project
St Mary Magdalen Church, Coldean
Coldean’s Barn Church Dedicated
OLD EXTERIOR BUT VERY MODERN INTERIOR
“A
happy combination of ancient and modern” aptly describes the new
church of St. Mary Magdalen at Coldean, which was dedicated by the
Bishop of Lewes (the Rt. Rev. Geoffrey H. Warde) on Tuesday evening
(20th December 1955).OLD EXTERIOR BUT VERY MODERN INTERIOR
Most of the flint exterior is as it has been for upwards of 170 years, for this was a barn on the former Cold Dean Farm, originally part of the Stanmer Estate.
But the interior is in the modern style, with overhead electric heat and soft “concealed” lighting.
St Mary Magdalen Church in December 1955
Wide windows take the place of the double doors on either side of the erstwhile derelict barn, but the architect, Mr John L. Denman, has retained the old beams.
And he designed the extensions, to accommodate a side chapel, baptistery and vestries, which have been carried out in matching flint’ work.
On old Ordnance Survey Maps the farm was described as “The Menagarie;” why, nobody appears to know.
200 Feet Deep Well
In
time church grounds, adjoining Coldean lane on the southern fringe of
Stanmer Park, there was uncovered last week a 200 ft deep well. It has
been filled in.The foundation stone problem has been solved by the insertion of an inscribed stone in the flint wall of what is now a side chapel.
Already the priest in charge, the Rev. Cyril H. G. Bess, is faced with an unusual problem at his beautiful new church.
His Sunday School numbers 450 children and for two and a half years It has been held in two of the Coldean School halls. But the church seats only 180.
“We shall have to hold two sessions - one in the morning and one in the afternoon,” he told a “Herald” reporter.
Every available bit of space in the new Church has been ingeniously utilised. Sliding screens enable the sanctuary to be shut off so that the rest of the building can be used as a church hall. On each side of a stage at the west end is a small vestry, suitable also for use as a dressing room.
Children’s Farthings Paid For Furniture
Projections
at the east end have been used, on the one side as a kitchen and
committee room, and on the other side as a chapel to seat 25.The cost of the furniture in this tiny chapel was defrayed from a gift of £205 subscribed last year in farthings by the Sunday School children of the diocese.
An Interesting feature is the wooden font; it has wheels, so that it can be wheeled into the church on Sundays.
It was’ purchased by contributions from contributions from the Coldean Primary School, and by collections from baptisms and a children’s envelope scheme.
The rood screen in the church, mounted on one of the six great beams of the former barn, comprises a wooden depiction of Christ, St. Mary and St. John, It was designed by the distinguished Brighton artist Mr Charles Knight and was carved by Mr J, Cribb, of Ditchling.
The plated altar cross and as candlesticks were made by a Coldean craftsman, Mr Charles W. Yeates, who made a gift of the cross.
Many other items among the furnishings are in memoriam gifts.
Altogether; the new church has cost about £9,500, of which £2,000 has come from the sale of the redundant Church of SS. Mary Magdalene in Bread Street.
The parishioners of Coldean have already contributed much towards their new church, but more money is needed.
And Mr Bess is hoping somebody will donate an organ to replace the piano temporarily installed.
Strong Church Life
BISHOP'S HOPE FOR NEW CENTRE
In
his address to a crowded congregation, the Bishop of Lewes said he
hoped and prayed, that the new building would be the centre of a strong
Church life in that great new parish.BISHOP'S HOPE FOR NEW CENTRE
He was particularly interested, he said, that the new church was carrying on the title of the old Wagner church in Bread Street, for that church was one of his responsibilities when he was Vicar of Brighton.
In that old church there were many good priests and devoted people, and he prayed that even the younger people at Coldean would bear their responsibility of seeing to it that the worship of God there was not only sincere but offered with a full heart.
Referring to the fact that the building would also be used for social gatherings, the Bishop expressed the hope that it would be filled with all the fun and laughter our Lord would like to see.
Great Evil to be Fought
This
new church, he said, was tremendously important not simply because
there was great evil in the work to be fought, but because many people
today were towards wistfully turning again towards the things of the
spirit which have been lost from the materialism of our age, and which
the younger people had never found or known.How tremendously important it is that you should carry about with the infection of a good courage. There is great truth, in the old saying that Christianity is as much caught as taught.
In attendance at the simple but impressive dedication service were the Archdeacon of Lewes (the Ven. J. H. L. Morrell), the priest in charge of the new church (the Rev. Cyril H. G. Bess), the Vicar of Moulsecoomb (the Rev. W. R. Newton), the Rev. Ian Smith, the Rev. R. R. Feilden, the Rector of Stanmer with Falmer (the Rev. J. H. W. Ashdowne) and the churchwardens (Messrs. W. T. J. Ayling and A. Hutchings).
Also in the church bearing their colours, were members of the Coldean section of the 12th Brighton Group of Boy Scouts and Cubs, the 1st Coldean Company of Girl Guides and the Coldean Brownies.
Brighton & Hove Herald, Saturday, 24 December 1955
