French Protestant Church, Brighton

Infobox church
name = L'Eglise Française Reformée


caption = Side view of the church, with the Metropole Hotel behind
landscape = yes
denomination = Reformed Church of France
founded_date = 1858
architect = W. G. Gibbins
style = Gothic
constructed_date = 1887
dedicated_date = 1887
minister = Frank Orna-Ornstein
address = Queensbury Mews, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 2FE
country = UK

The French Protestant Church of Brighton ("L'Eglise Française Reformée") in the English city of Brighton and Hove, is the only French Protestant church in Britain outside London, where there is a building dating from 1893 in Soho Square.cite web|title=Soho Square area: Portland Estate — Nos. 8 and 9 Soho Square|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=41034|accessdate=2007-12-05|publisher=University of London & History of Parliament Trust|date=2007|work=British History Online website] cite web|title=French Protestant Reformed Church|url=http://www.regencybrighton.com/outabout/french_church/|accessdate=2008-06-27|publisher=Regency Square Area Society|year=2008|work=Regency Square Area Society website] Brighton's dates from the previous decade, and is centrally located in Queensbury Mews, a small street just behind Brighton seafront and next to the Metropole Hotel.cite book |last=Dale |first=Antony |title=Brighton Churches |origyear=1989 |location=London EC4 |isbn=0-415-00863-8 |pages=p181 ] Opened in 1887, it was put up for sale in June 2008 and is expected to close later in the year.cite news | url = http://www.theargus.co.uk/search/display.var.2362633.0.end_of_an_era_for_brightons_french_church.php | work = The Argus | author = Lawrence Marzouk | date = 2008-06-25 | title = End of an era for Brighton's French church | accessdate = 2008-06-27 ]

History

In 1548, Deryck Carver, a French-speaking Flemish man from a town near Liège, sought refuge in Brighton from the persecution he was experiencing from the ruling powers of the time in respect of his Calvinist beliefs. He had been a lay reader; as well as establishing Brighton's first brewery, the Black Lion, he held Bible reading sessions at his house in Brighton for the next few years until Roman Catholicism was re-established as Britain's state religion by Queen Mary I in 1553. At this time, such meetings of Protestants were banned, and Carver was arrested and committed to trial in London for continuing to hold them. He was burnt at the stake in 1555.cite book |last=Dale |first=Antony |title=Brighton Churches |origyear=1989 |publisher=Routledge |location=London EC4 |isbn=0-415-00863-8 |pages=p182 ]

The meetings had been attended by many fishermen from both England and France, beginning the tradition of French Christian worship in Brighton. In the 17th and 18th centuries, this was maintained in a Presbyterian chapel in the centre of the town, which was attended by many Francophone worshippers. Calvinists, meanwhile, met secretly in private houses until an official church was formed for the Francophone population in 1858. The first two pastors were French, as were many members of the committee formed later to assist the church council.cite book |last=Dale |first=Antony |title=Brighton Churches |origyear=1989 |publisher=Routledge |location=London EC4 |isbn=0-415-00863-8 |pages=p183 ] However, a Brighton resident, Mrs E. Hayes, played a significant role in bringing the church community together. Services were initially held at her house, and later in various churches and public buildings in the town; but in 1887 the pastor oversaw the building of a dedicated church for the congregation. A plot of land behind Kings Road was bought for £735, and building materials cost another £800. Money was raised from the congregation itself, Protestant congregations in France and people within Brighton's religious community.cite book |last=Dale |first=Antony |title=Brighton Churches |origyear=1989 |publisher=Routledge |location=London EC4 |isbn=0-415-00863-8 |pages=p184 ] Mrs Hayes coordinated the fundraising and donated some money herself. These efforts were criticised by Rev. J. Gregory in his sermon at the dedication ceremony on 18 July 1887; he described fundraising in general as "stirring the Lord's fire with the devil's poker", and complained about the activities that were organised, saying that they did not fit "with the Lord's work".

A time capsule was set into the main foundation stone, containing items associated with Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. The stone was laid by the Mayor of Brighton using a specially made trowel, and the church was consecrated on 27 February 1888.

Architecture

Designed in red-brick Gothic style by the architect W. G. Gibbins, the church has three pairs of lancet windows in the western face, a pointed-arch entrance door and rose window in quatrefoil form in the southern face, a slate roof and a small copper spire on top of a square turret.

The church today

At the start of the 20th century, there were around 2,000 French speakers in Brighton, many of them Protestants, but the community is now much smaller. There is, however, a weekly service (in French and English) at 11.00am on Sundays.

The building was offered for sale in June 2008, as its trustees decided they could no longer maintain it. Demolition is considered unlikely, however; the building may be converted for residential or commercial use, and the time capsule will be retained. Services will continue to be held in the church until it is sold, after which the congregation is expected to find alternative accommodation in the city.

References