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Hollingdean

Photo:The Mission Hall in a sad and sorry state, October 2006

The Mission Hall in a sad and sorry state, October 2006

Photo: J. Whittam

Old Church Hall, Hollingdean Terrace
By Joy Whittam

This article originally appeared in Hollingdean News December 2006 issue - an independent community newsletter produced and distributed by Hollingdean residents.

In November, I asked if anyone knew the history of a rundown building at the Dip end of Hollingdean Terrace as it currently has an "under offer" estate agents sign and will no doubt be demolished for redevelopment. Two readers kindly got in touch and their memories, along with a trip to the local planning office, gave me the following background.

Church mission hall
The building was purpose built as a Church Mission Hall (possibly in the 30s) and was run in connection with what is now known as The United Kingdom Evangelization Trust, a charity with Christian Brethren roots set up in 1906. The site backs onto land which was developed to build Adams Close, a relatively recent addition off Hollingbury Crescent.

One reader who grew up in Hollingdean Terrace recalls going to the 'Chapel' Sunday school in the afternoon from 1941 onwards and also to craft activities such as basket weaving on weekdays after school, in sessions which were open to all. These were very popular, with upwards of 35 children attending and predated any youth clubs in the area. At that time the hall was run by a Mr. Maxwell and his daughter Ruby and had a garden round it which was eventually concreted over. At the back of the hall was a room used as a library also open to local people.

The Crusaders
Another reader remembers a church run youth club at the hall called the 'Crusaders' which was popular before the advent of the first Hollingdean youth and football clubs based at St. Richards Church, which was built in the early 1950s.

Air raid shelter
During the war, there was an above ground air raid shelter built at this end of Hollingdean Terrace next to the hall and with good reason - vibrations from the impact of a bomb dropped on the 'Dust Destructor' at Hollingdean Depot site were felt in houses in the road.

Redevelopment
The hall seems to have ceased function as a Chapel in the early 1950s, was later used for storage and over decades has fallen into a derelict state. A long running dispute over ownership of the land between the church and an individual has complicated redevelopment. Outline planning permission (now expired) was granted in 1989 for sheltered flats, and in 2005 a planning application was submitted for a rebuilt community hall and three terraced houses, by trustees of the original church organisation, with the use of the hall to be run by another Brighton church group. This application was subsequently rejected in January 2005.

This page was added on 04/01/2007.

Comments:

I attended prayer meetings at 'Hollingbury Hall' (as it was called then) up until I was 14/15 years old which means it was definitely in use as a place of worship until 1961/62 and probably longer. Originally I went to the Sunday School meetings in the main hall, and then when slightly older to a side room and became a 'Covenanter' (not Crusaders). I introduced quite a few of my local school chums, some I remember were Phil Morgan (Stanmer Villas), Trevor Davis and Dave and Ray Pollard (all Hollingdean Terrace). Dave, Trevor and I went to a special summer camp for Covenanters near Truro in Cornwall, I still have some photos of us!  I'm sad to see what a delapitated state the hall has fallen in to. I used to live in Hollingbury Crescent, but have lived in Lymington in Hampshire for many years now.

By Gary Murphy (12/10/2007)

I, too, along with my sisters, attended the Mission Hall in the 1950s and subsequently became covenanters. I look back now and realise that our mum probably sent us to Sunday School so that she could have a break on a Sunday afternoon. And who could blame her with five children. On Wednesday evenings at the Hall, we spent the time playing rag hockey - bean bags and upside down walking sticks, kept solely for this purpose and not 'borrowed' from anyone needing to use them - one hopes! We were also supposed to sew small items to sell to raise funds for those less fortunate than us. I think those in charge had their work cut out though, trying to drag us from the fun of the hockey and personally I can't remember taking part in any sewing activity at all.

By Linda Harris (nee Keats) (15/11/2007)

I can put a later date on the use of the hall. We listened to Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum in 1970 as we did basket making. Mrs Richardson from No. 82 also played piano at a later date for services. I once found a tortoise at the gate of the hall that went unclaimed and became a pet!

By Yvonne Bish (Hollingdean Terrace) (15/08/2008)

It was still in use well into the 70s. I remember going to Sunday School in about 76-77. We sang "In your heart there rings a melody" every week. My house backed onto the yard at the back of the place, we called it "the dump" because it was full of junk.

By Andy Marsh (17/11/2008)

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