This building was situated in Russell Street (now obliterated by the Brighton Centre). It is an intriguing building and was originally to be known as the Church of the Transfiguration. It was built in 1879 under the benediction of the Reverend Arthur Douglas Wagner, Vicar of St Paul's, West Street nearby.
The church was intended to serve the fishing community and other poor residents in a very congested area behind the sea front. In order to be less assertive and attract less attention than the recently completed St Bartholomew's, the floor was considerably below ground level, with the entrance from the street giving on to a balcony at the south end. This allowed a lofty nave which was not evident from the exterior.
Here is a view from the south east.
It seems unlikely that the church ever met Wagner's intentions and it can probably claim to be the first redundant Anglican church in the town as it closed in 1911. It later found use as a refrigerated meat store, before being demolished in 1968.
This photograph was taken and permission granted for use here by Malcolm J Stacey.
Scanned black and white photograph
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