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Church of the Annunciation, Hanover

Image of Church of the Annunciation

Originally taken for Hanovernet

Image of the boys school, now Hanover Community Centre.

Originally taken for Hanovernet

History notes

The Church of the Annuciation was built in 1864 to serve the increasing poor population of Hanover. Aware of the poverty of many of the parish, the Reverend Arthur Douglas Wagner ensured that, unlike many other Brighton churches, no pew rate would be charged.

A school was provided for girls and infants, and a boys' school proposed in Southover Street - the building now used as the Hanover Community Centre.

According to Hilly Laine to Hanover, "An observer at the time [1895] recalls: 'Within half an hour's walk of the fashionable parts of Brighton, halfway up a steep hill from the Lewes road, stands the Church of the Annunciation. The parish is compact, no house within it being more than five minutes walk from the church. Fifty years ago there were only a few houses scattered here and there among market gardens, made on the side of what once formed part of the Brighton Downs. Now there are 16 streets of small, modern houses for artisans; eight streets lie in parallel lines, intersected by the upward road. Many of the houses contain two or more families, while more than one of them are occupied by ladies who devote themselves to work amongst the poorer brothers and sisters.'"

The church's Annunciation window was designed by Edward Burne-Jones and executed by William Morris, in memory of Elizabeth Austin Attree, the first parishioner of the church.

History notes originally written for Hanovernet

This page was added on 22/03/2006.

Comments about this page

I went to Sunday school there in 1960 and the nuns from the convent opposite would be there. Does anyone remember the lovely Sister Claire who would pop in for a cup of tea with my mum in Hanover Terrace .

By Val Harber(Nee Hall) (02/09/2007)

She was my godmother I remember her very well. The nuns were very unlike the modern perceptions of nuns as brutal bullies, one or two were strict but most were really nice. We used to go to their Mission House after Christmas Day service to get a bag of sweets and look at their crib. I still go to the church!

By Helen Nevitt (29/01/2008)

In 1951 I attended confirmation classes given by Sister Audrey and Sister Elsa Mary, they also rehearsed us for the yearly stage drama held in the Coleman Street Church Hall. I was supposed to appear as the maid in Slug Death but got so scared I ran off the stage during the rehearsal! Then came the wonderful Father Bullivant, he became a part of our family and joined us every Christmas for our evening sing song. What wonderful memories I have.

By Violet Hammond (14/08/2008)

I used to go to this church in the 60s and can remember the same thing about going to the Nuns' Mission House and looking at the Crib and getting a bag of sweets after Christmas morning service. My older brother David was an alter boy when Father Bullivant was the priest, I did try to follow in my brother's foot steps by becoming an alter boy but at the time of the sacrament I had to bang the little gong when the bread was broken. The ball end of the hammer came off as I banged the gong and instead of staying where I was, I ran after the ball end - I was never asked to be an alter boy again...I had to do three Our Fathers and three Hail Mary's. Oh HAPPY DAYS

By Donald Waller (09/06/2011)