Saint Bartholomew's Church

St Bartholomew’s Church stands on a sloping site in Brighton’s New England Quarter, between the railway station and the London Road. The red-brick building is tall and narrow, built in the Gothic Revival style with a steep roof and tall pointed windows. Its height makes it visible from many parts of the city, towering over the surrounding streets. The church occupies a prominent position on Ann Street, where low-level buildings once surrounded it. The New England Quarter’s taller structures now partly obscure the view from some angles. The church was designed by Edmund Scott at the request of the Revd Arthur Douglas Wagner. Wagner had taken over his father’s plans for new churches in Brighton and made St Bartholomew’s his sole project. Construction began in 1872 and was completed in 19 months, opening in 1874 with free seating for up to 1,500 worshippers. The building cost £18,000, less than earlier churches because of its brick construction and simplified design. Inside, the church is a single large hall with tall arches and side chapels. The walls are mostly plain brick, but the north end features a 30-foot chalk cross above the altar. The sanctuary was redesigned in the late 19th century by Henry Wilson, who added a 45-foot baldacchino in red and green marble. A large organ gallery at the south end and a marble font on the south-eastern side complete the interior. The church’s openness and height create a sense of space, enhanced by tall windows and unadorned brickwork.