1898 – Hove Parish Church, Brighton, Sussex

“A FEW days before his death last month, the late Mr. J.L. Pearson, R.A., lent us the drawing here- with reproduced in illustration of this imposing and well-designed church, which is one of his more recent works. So very seldom did Mr. Pearson care to have his designs illustrated, that the circumstance thus briefly alluded to adds an additional interest to the illustration, and having but lately seen the building itself, so far as its execution has been carried out up to the present, we can speak of the ability and original taste displayed by the detail and design of the church, which merit the warmest praise. The drawing, as a matter of fact, hardly does the building justice.

It stands at the corner of “The Drive ” and Eaton-road. The accommodation is for 1,270 worshippers. The narthex at the west end will form the principal entrance. The nave is 105ft. long by 35ft. wide, and nearly 75ft. high. It is divided into six bays, and a feature is made of the baptistery. A triforium is omitted, in recognition of the parish-church treatment in distinction from that of an abbey church. The clerestory is comparatively low, after the English type, and the sills are about 40ft. from the floor. The eastern bay of the nave is much wider than the rest, and opens on the north and south sides into transepts : these arches occupy the entire height of both nave arctide and clerestory. The bitraceried window at the west end mainly lights the nave, the glass area being 32ft. by 17ft. The roof is of oak, handsomely braced and framed in simple lines. The chancel is of three bays, and the sanctuary beyond makes the most effective feature in the church, as it should do. It is 23ft. long by 27ft. wide, and is entered by an arch 65ft. high, and the walls are carried up to 55ft ; this enhanced height and reduced width combine to produce an extremely lofty effect, which stands in marked contrast to the broader treatment of the nave. The reredos contemplated is to be of stone, and will cover the lower part of the entire east wall with sculptures in illustration of the life of Our Lord. The south aisle is 21ft. wide, that on the north being 10ft. All the doors open outwards, and are wide enough to admit Bath chairs. South of the choir is a morning chapel, 46ft. long by 21ft. wide. The western gable reaches 77ft. high. The tower parapet will measure 140ft. A pleasing feature is made by the south porch having sculptured figures in relief in the gable over a richly-moulded arch of elegant design. The vestries, and the room over them, are of a semi-Domestic character. The organ is lifted up, and located well for musical effect.”