Churches - Bevendean History Project
St Matthew's Church, Sutherland Road
Financing the church and parish was always a struggle, the Vicar
Rev. J. H. Rogers resigned the living in June, 1902, and he was
succeeded by the Rev. W. T. McCormick.
By the start of the 1900s, nearly all the wealthier friends of the parish had passed away, and their places were difficult, and often impossible, to fill.
This resulted in steady decrease in the revenue for the church. The First World War increased all the difficulties and prevented further progress.
The upkeep of the building was a constant source of expense. Its exposed position, and its enormous height, rendered it particularly liable to suffer from the frequent gales, and the roof was stripped of its tiles several times
Geographically the Church was unfavourably situated for successful work. The lower half of the parish was separated from the upper half, where the Church stands, by the grounds of Brighton College and the Kemp Town Station and goods depot, and several other places of worship were in far closer proximity and much more convenient for the people living in the neighbourhood.
Photograph taken in 1922 showing the interior of St Matthew's Church with the newly installed reredos brought from St Peter's Church in Brighton
Mission Halls
For many years before 1916, two Mission Halls in different parts of the parish were centres of vigorous un-denominational activity. They became less active and were secured for the use of the St Matthew’s Church. The first one was the East End Mission Hall, which was rented from February, 1908, by the Vicar.
In 1910 St Matthew took over the running of two local missions: the Bute Street Mission in Sutherland Road and the East End Mission Hall on Eastern Road. Records do not appear to have survived for the East End Mission Hall.
The second the Bute Street Mission which started in 1883 and was originally sited in a small building in Bute Street. Work on new premises in Sutherland Road started in April 1892 and the first services were held in October of that year.
In 1908 the trustees approached the Vicar of St Matthew's, the Rev R W Odell, and the hall was purchased by the parish; two years later, its official title changed to St Matthew's Mission Hall. However, unofficially, the hall seems continued to be referred to by its original title. When St Matthew's was closed in 1967 the hall was transferred to St Luke's parish.
Making each of these Halls a separate centre enabled the church to attempt to reach the whole parish, but the duplication of the work, rendered the task difficult. The method of attacking the task was to draw up of a private directory of all the streets, houses, and families in the parish. This was found indispensable, but needed constant visitation in order to keep it up to date.
The church aimed at providing Gospel teaching along the lines known as Evangelical and Spiritual, in accordance with Protestant convictions and traditions, and as being most truly Catholic.
The end of an era for St Matthew’s
In less than one hundred years yet another round of parish reorganisation decided that St. Matthew’s had outlived its usefulness, and it was declared redundant, de-consecrated, and demolished, its dedication only living on in the name given to the small block of flats erected on the site, “St. Matthew’s Court.” It is a matter of speculation how many of the inhabitants know from where their address originated, or anything about the former history of their homes.
The last service in the church was on the 26 February 1967 and the benefice was united with St Mark's. The church was demolished later in 1967 and the Bute Street Mission Hall became a chapel of ease and was transferred to parish of St Luke's, Queens Park.
St Matthew’s Court, the block of flats on the site of St Matthew’s Church in August 2020.
The Bute Street Mission Hall on the corner of Sutherland Road and Rochester Street is still standing (2020), but is no longer used for ecclesiastical purposes.
By the start of the 1900s, nearly all the wealthier friends of the parish had passed away, and their places were difficult, and often impossible, to fill.
This resulted in steady decrease in the revenue for the church. The First World War increased all the difficulties and prevented further progress.
The upkeep of the building was a constant source of expense. Its exposed position, and its enormous height, rendered it particularly liable to suffer from the frequent gales, and the roof was stripped of its tiles several times
Geographically the Church was unfavourably situated for successful work. The lower half of the parish was separated from the upper half, where the Church stands, by the grounds of Brighton College and the Kemp Town Station and goods depot, and several other places of worship were in far closer proximity and much more convenient for the people living in the neighbourhood.
Photograph taken in 1922 showing the interior of St Matthew's Church with the newly installed reredos brought from St Peter's Church in Brighton
Mission Halls
For many years before 1916, two Mission Halls in different parts of the parish were centres of vigorous un-denominational activity. They became less active and were secured for the use of the St Matthew’s Church. The first one was the East End Mission Hall, which was rented from February, 1908, by the Vicar.
In 1910 St Matthew took over the running of two local missions: the Bute Street Mission in Sutherland Road and the East End Mission Hall on Eastern Road. Records do not appear to have survived for the East End Mission Hall.
The second the Bute Street Mission which started in 1883 and was originally sited in a small building in Bute Street. Work on new premises in Sutherland Road started in April 1892 and the first services were held in October of that year.
In 1908 the trustees approached the Vicar of St Matthew's, the Rev R W Odell, and the hall was purchased by the parish; two years later, its official title changed to St Matthew's Mission Hall. However, unofficially, the hall seems continued to be referred to by its original title. When St Matthew's was closed in 1967 the hall was transferred to St Luke's parish.
Making each of these Halls a separate centre enabled the church to attempt to reach the whole parish, but the duplication of the work, rendered the task difficult. The method of attacking the task was to draw up of a private directory of all the streets, houses, and families in the parish. This was found indispensable, but needed constant visitation in order to keep it up to date.
The church aimed at providing Gospel teaching along the lines known as Evangelical and Spiritual, in accordance with Protestant convictions and traditions, and as being most truly Catholic.
The end of an era for St Matthew’s
In less than one hundred years yet another round of parish reorganisation decided that St. Matthew’s had outlived its usefulness, and it was declared redundant, de-consecrated, and demolished, its dedication only living on in the name given to the small block of flats erected on the site, “St. Matthew’s Court.” It is a matter of speculation how many of the inhabitants know from where their address originated, or anything about the former history of their homes.
The last service in the church was on the 26 February 1967 and the benefice was united with St Mark's. The church was demolished later in 1967 and the Bute Street Mission Hall became a chapel of ease and was transferred to parish of St Luke's, Queens Park.
St Matthew’s Court, the block of flats on the site of St Matthew’s Church in August 2020.
The Bute Street Mission Hall on the corner of Sutherland Road and Rochester Street is still standing (2020), but is no longer used for ecclesiastical purposes.
| Photographs of St Matthew's Church in Sutherland Road, Kemp Town | Newspaper Articles about St Matthew's Church in Sutherland Road, Kemp Town |
