Church Of St Andrew Including Walls, Railings And Gates

HOVE

TQ2904SE WATERLOO STREET 579-1/23/134 (East side) 24/03/50 Church of St Andrew including walls, railings and gates

GV I

Church. 1827-8, enlarged with addition of chancel 1882, partly refitted 1925. Architect Sir Charles Barry, enlarged by his son Edward Middleton Barry, later embellishments by W.H.Randoll Blacking. Italianate style. Ashlar-faced west end, otherwise exposed brick, roof covering concealed behind parapet. Plan: originally rectangular space with west gallery, enlarged with domed crossing, transepts, apsidal chancel and domed south-east chapel, north-east vestry, both top lit in Italianate style. West front unlit, rusticated facade with Corinthian pilaster quoins and paired pilasters carrying plain entablature with moulded cornice flanking central round-headed opening, blind niches in outer bays. The paired pilasters break forward slightly carrying the plinth of the single stage bell turret in the form of a rusticated tempietto, fluted Corinthian pilasters carrying modillion moulded cornice, 2-light round-headed bell openings, scalloped lead roof. Clock face below, bell openings on 3 sides, ventilation grill below plinth. To the left is a pilaster doorcase with entablature giving access to the crypt. Main entrance: recessed porch, doorway on left and right returns, central 3-light opening with pierced metal grill. Tessellated pavement. Handsome cast-iron double gates to entrance; cast-iron railings set in dwarf wall with moulded coping, returned from entrance along street frontage with double gates to the crypt. Interior: rendered. Coved ceiling, pilaster bands and cornice. Crossing dome painted blue with columns. Similar structure with Corinthian columns covering white marble font with Greek Revival-style cover at west end of church below gallery; all part of the 1925 refitting, as are the bronze altar rails. Pulpit with sounding board donated 1918. Late C19 brass lectern. Handsome wooden organ case in Wrenaissance style 1889 in north transept. Late C19 pews with glass screen backs to the most westerly row. Stained glass including lunette in apse and 2 windows in south transept; much of the glass was removed during the 1920s to lighten the church. To this end all but 4 of the wall tablets were resited in the narthex; Lord Charles Somerset died 1831 and Sir George Dallas, died 1833 (by Ternouth) remain. The toplit narthex includes the stone stair to the gallery as well as an interesting collection of white marble monuments on the walls. The crypt below the church is said to contain many coffins. Built to serve the inhabitants of Brunswick Square (qv), the church was patronised by members of the Royal family and aristocracy in the early C19. The church is notable as the first example of the use of the Italianate style in England. (Dale A: Brighton Churches: 1989-; Middleton J: A History of Hove: 1979-; National Monuments Record: Photograph).

Listing NGR: TQ2988804297