Our building
All Souls Church is a thriving and warm-welcoming church situated in the town centre of Eastbourne and opens its doors to anyone and everyone who chooses to attend.
The church is a highly acclaimed Grade2* listed building and was commissioned by Lady Victoria Wellesley, great-niece of the Duke of Wellington, in memory of her two aunts, Dorothy and Emma-Tilney Long. The church took two years to complete and was consecrated by the Bishop of Chichester on the 6th July 1882. Following an Italian Romanesque style for its exterior the architect A. P. Strong of Parr and Strong, London chose to base the interior closely on the 6th century basilica at St. Apollinare in Classe, Ravenna. The church is the only Victorian church in Sussex displaying a free-standing campanile.
The Project
There is an urgent need to develop our toilet and kitchen facilities not only to serve the projects we currently have , but also to develop future projects.
Our current facilities, one toilet and an adjacent sink, are simply insufficient to meet the needs of a growing all-age congregation and support the life of a busy parish ministry. The new toilet facilities would offer an additional seven toilet units including a dedicated and well resourced disabled and child facility. In addition there also a need for improved kitchen facilities as the present arrangements with the kitchen sink in the lobby outside the present cloakroom is unhealthy and has safety concerns and makes it difficult to provide refreshments. The new toilet facilities along with the new kitchen will enable the church to increase its work with the homeless and vulnerable by providing more activities for vulnerable people to be helped by finding friendship and support.
These developments would help to fulfil part of our vision to make the church more comfortable and welcoming. not only for existing members of the church family, but also increase the attractiveness of All Souls in its outreach to new worshippers and members.
The cost of the Project
The total cost of the project excluding fees was £411,000 which included ground investigation and architects fees.
Through the prayerful and sacrificial giving of the Church family, £280,000 has been raised, grant making trusts have given £34,000 and a Diocesan loan of £25,000 has been provided. We are currently hoping that other grant making trusts will help to bridge the gap of £65,000.
Timeline
- In October 2018 the Parochial Church Council agreed that the application should be made to the Diocesan Advisory Committee for advice and full faculty.
- In September 2019 the PCC agreed to go ahead with the provision of the new facilities
- In November 2019 approval was given by the Diocesan Advisory Committee
- In March 2020 contact was signed
- Work started on the new facilities in May 2020
The impact of the Project
The successful completion of the project would enable us to continue to support the projects in which we are already involved
- Advance the Kingdom of God and care for those in a deprived area
- Increase our work with the homeless
- Give consideration to the possibility of opening a coffee shop
- To have the option to have more flexibility of our building
- To enable us to run local and regional conferences as well as providing a venue for choirs and for concerts
