Churches - Bevendean History Project
St Mary Magdalen Church, Coldean
Coldeans New Church is Dedicated
The
old mission church of St Mary Magdalen, Bread Street, Brighton, which
fell into disuse after the last war, lives again in the new church of
St Mary Magdalen on Coldean's post-war housing estate.A service of dedication was carried out by the Bishop of Lewes (the Rt. Rev. Geoffrey H. Warde) on Tuesday, (20th December 1955).
He told a packed congregation, "I am particularly interested to know that you will be carrying on the name of St Mary Magdalen, for, as a former Vicar of Brighton, the mission church was one of my responsibilities."
Some £2000 of the money from the sale of the mission church was devoted to the new building which was once a barn. Many of the new furnishings have been given in memory of former parishioners.
The building has been constructed for easy conversion into a church Hall when a new churches built.
Said the Bishop: "I pray God it may be the centre of a strong church life which will resound in this great new district of Brighton."
In the old church there were many good priests and devoted people. He hoped young people in the new church would grow up to worship God with sincerity and a full heart.
Listening to the Bishop were colour parties from the Coldean section of the 12th Brighton Scouts and Cups; the 1st Coldean Company of Girl Guides; and the 1st and 2nd Coldean Brownie packs.
The Bishop was assisted by the Archdeacon of Lewes (the Ven J. H. L. Morrell), the Priest-in-Charge (the Rev. C. H. G. Bess), the Vicar of Moulsecombe (the Rev W. R. Newton), the Rev I. W. Smith, the Rev R. R. Fielden, and the Rector of Stanmer (the Rev J. H. W. Ashdowne).
Mister John L. Denman was the architect, and the construction work was carried out by Messrs Keith Andrew and Co., Ltd.
Brighton & Hove Gazette, Saturday, 24 December 1955
