St Peter's Church

Parish or perish as a spiritual centre?

By Maureen Brand, North Laine resident

St Peter's Church (Church of England) sits a very short step from North Laine, on the island encircled by traffic between York Place and Richmond Place. In a city of churches, its prominence and size on the major visitor route to the sea makes it perhaps the nearest we have to a cathedral. Indeed in 1873 it became Brighton Parish Church.

History of St Peter's

St Peter's was built in Gothic style in 1824-8 at a cost of £20,365 and was consecrated in 1828. A competition held to design the church was won by Charles Barry, who later went on to design the Houses of Parliament, although the spire he intended was not built. Later work in 1898-1902 extended the nave northwards and galleries were removed. The new chancel was consecrated in 1906. Built originally of Portland stone, the 1898 additions were in Sussex sandstone and the difference in colour is easily seen.

Falling masonry

Railings now fence part of the exterior of the church because some masonry has fallen. More railings close off a large part of the interior. The cost of repairs and conservation must surely be high and, with the current (2008) consideration of the disposal of St Peter's, presumably the church authorities feel unable to continue to take on the financial burden. An archdeacon is reported as saying that harsh decisions have to be made.

The future of St Peter's

A debate continues on its future. Listed as it is, the building cannot be demolished (unless perhaps it is deemed beyond repair). If deconsecrated, proposals for future use would need to be in sympathy with the architecture. Suggestions have ranged from interior conversion into offices, flats, or mixed use.  Such mixed use is possible. It has been done before. In Lichfield, Staffordshire, for example, in the market square heart of the city, St Mary's Church now offers a small consecrated chapel at one end, a café for pensioners, a public café, a shop and, on a floor built above them, a heritage centre.

Many, however, argue for keeping St Peter's whole and consecrated. Church commissioners have received a petition containing almost 7,000 signatures. If the church authorities feel they really cannot commit to its future, to what use might the building be put, bearing in mind the cost of conservation?