PARISH OF ST LEONARD CHRIST CHURCH

The site of the first Christ Church was a derelict quarry which was acquired by Louisa, Lady St John, widow of St Andrew St John of Bletshoe, the 13th baron, who built the church at her own expense. It opened on 9 September 1860. At first the parish of St Mary Magdalen provided clergy, then in 1862 the Rev Charles Lyndhurst Vaughan became priest in charge. Vaughan was a son of Lady St John by her second marriage to Sir John Vaughan. The foundation stone of the present building was laid on 6 November 1873; the architect was Arthur William Blomfield, and the builders were Dove and Company of Isleworth. The church was opened for service and dedicated on 13 May 1875. The consecration took place in November 1884, and Christ Church was created a parish in 1885 from the parish of St Mary Magdalen in St Leonards.

The parishes of Christ Church and St Mary Magdalen were amalgamated in 1980.

For records relating to the history of the church see PAR470/7/7

Contents

INCUMBENT

PAR470/1/2 Baptism registers; 1862-1963

PAR470/1/3 Marriage registers; 1885-1992

PAR470/1/4 Banns registers; 1909-1988

PAR470/1/6 Confirmation registers; 1912-1989

PAR470/3 Service registers; 1885-2003

PAR470/4/1 Deeds and associated papers; 1893-1989

PAR470/4/2 Faculties and archdeacon's certificates; 1903-1983

PAR470/4/3 Papers relating to works on the buildings and furnishings; 1877-1996

PAR470/4/4 Plans and drawings; 1873-1994

PAR470/5 Institutions, inductions and licences; 1875-1967

PAR470/6 Income of the benefice; 1916

PAR470/7 Incumbent's other records

PAR470/7/1 Parish magazines; 1864-2002

PAR470/7/2 Records relating to alterations to parish boundaries; 1831-1895

PAR470/7/3 Photographs relating to Christ Church, including clergy and church events; c1860-c2000

PAR470/7/4 Albums; 1929-1989

PAR470/7/5 Mounted photographs for 'Festival of Memories' exhibition; 1968-1994

PAR470/7/6 Other photographs; 1955-1986

PAR470/7/7 Records relating to the history of the church; 1888-c1990

PAR470/7/8 Newscuttings; 1874-1981

PAR470/7/9 Typescript and manuscript sermon notes; 1916-1957

PAR470/7/10 Christ Church printed greeting cards; 1944-c1960

PAR470/7/11 Papers of the Rev George Percy Maryon-Wilson; 1926-1949

PAR470/7/12 Papers and photographs of Canon Donald George Carter relating to Mayfield; c1860-1973

PAR470/7/13 Orders of service and programmes of church events; 1927-2000

PAR470/7/14 Christ Church publications; [1945] - 1958

PAR470/7/15 Other publications; 1920-1943

PAR470/7/16 Recordings of services; [1972]-1979

PAR470/7/17 Other records; 1888-1999

CHURCHWARDENS

PAR470/9 Churchwardens' accounts; 1909-1928

PAR470/10 Churchwardens' property records; 1930-1988

VESTRY

PAR470/12 Vestry minutes; 1885-1896

PAR470/13 Committee Minutes; 1901-1921

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

PAR470/14 Parochial Church Council minutes; 1946-1996

PAR470/15 Parochial Church Council financial records; 1942-1970

PAR470/16 Other Parochial Church Council records; 1933-1934

SCHOOLS

PAR470/25 School records; [1883]-1987

PAR470/26 RECORDS OF OTHER CHURCH ORGANISATIONS

PAR470/26/1 Records of the Guild of St Leonard; 1908-1920

PAR470/26/2 Guild of St Mary; 1943

PAR470/26/3 2nd St Leonards Rangers, Christ Church [1924]-1937

PAR470/26/4 9th Hastings Christ Church St Leonards Scout Troop; 1927-1971

PAR470/26/5 Records relating to Scout, Guide, Cub and Brownie Groups; 1983-1989

PAR470/26/6 Madagascar Mission Association; [1940]-1942

PAR470/26/7 Women's Fellowship; 1952-1953

PAR470/26/8 Christ Church Youth Association; c1943-1952/53

PAR470/26/9 Dance Committee; 1943-1945

PAR470/26/10 Christ Church Boys' Club; 1949-[1952]

PAR470/26/11 Christ Church Club; 1923-1934

PAR470/26/12 Compass Youth Group; 1992-1995

PAR470/26/13 Christ Church Working Men's Club Slate Club; 1961-1966

PAR470/26/14 The choir; 1960-2000

OTHER RECORDS

PAR470/43/1 Christ Church, St Leonards on Sea House Improvement Society Ltd; 1927-1955

PAR470/43/2 Our Lady's House (Christ Church) St Leonards-on-Sea Ltd; 1951-1988

PAR470/43/3 Fellowship of St John the Evangelist (St Leonards on Sea branch); 1950-1951

PAR470/43/4 Fellowship of St Nicholas; 1950s-1989

Deposited by the incumbent and PCC, 27 Jun 1991 (ACC 5708), 16 Aug 1994 (ACC 6419) and 9 Dec 2002 (ACC 8702)