Contribute


How to contribute

St Bartholomew's Church

Photo:St Bartholomews Church, Brighton

St Bartholomews Church, Brighton

Photo by Ian Ibbetson

Known to double as a recording studio
By Ian Ibbetson

The first time I went into St. Bart's, I did so just to see if it was all one floor inside. It is, and the high ceiling provides such good acoustics that the church has been known to double as a recording studio! It is allegedly built to the dimensions of Noah's ark, though you might be sceptical about anything that shape being able to float.

I pass close to this place on a regular basis, and I often try to imagine what it must have looked like when it was first built, and how much it would have dominated the area around it.

St. Bartholomew's is open to the public most days, and entry is free (although donations are appreciated).

From the 'Inside Guide to Brighton & Hove', 1998
This page was added on 22/03/2006.

Comments:

St Bartholomew's I believe to be the highest church in England. St Bartholomew was also known as Nathaniel and was brought to Jesus by one of the apostles.
By Richard Dean (16/09/2003)
It's so good to see that wonderful huge old building being noticed more and more. I am an old Brightonian now living in Essex. I grew up under the immense shade of that great church and even went to school there for a while. It was to have been 90 feet tall but the dedicated builders went on....and on... to the 135 foot height we now see. It was built to allow free access (no pews, no fees) for all to worship. It is a smashing place, beautiful, peaceful and inspiring. It appears on telly from time to time, and I have hopes that, one day, one of the musical events will be broadcast. Good luck to you, Ian, and thanks again. My love to Brighton, her pubs and people.
By Maureen Bregazzi (08/07/2004)
I used to sing in this church from time to time a few years ago. It is very much worth a visit to see the amazing gold mosaics and the altar area, Victorian splendour, and also a tribute to those who built it. Someone told me that it was built by the same people who built the railway viaducts. It's certainly in the same enormous scale, and style.
By Rosemary Jones (04/02/2006)

I went to school at St. Bartholomews from the early 70s until 1980. Both the school and the Church hold wonderful memories for me, even now, when I enter the Church I am overcome with awe and feel like I should whisper. We had a service in the Church every Thursday (I think) and we had to wear our coats as it was so cold. I've never heard the organ working to my disappointment and I remember being repremanded for turning around to stare at it when a service was going on. I was baptised at the font in about 1979 on Mothers Day by one of the Bishops who came especially to hold the Mother's Day service. I was 10 at the time I think. I always wanted to get married there too, however, I did that in Las Vegas instead. I'm proud to be a Brightonian and saddened at the number of beautiful buildings from my childhood that are disappearing. However, I'm fairly sure St.Bartholomews isn't going anywhere for a while yet.

By Tina Maginnis (nee Bastin) (13/02/2007)

Add a comment





Protected by FormShield