History and Features

History

Pre 1922 Church Services were taken by the Vicar of Piddinghoe and held in the open-air on the cliff-top or in a local building

1922 Daughter Church to St John’s, Piddinghoe built from wood and asbestos on current site of the church hall

1927 3rd November - The Ascension, Peacehaven became a separate district, described as a "Peel District".

1928 Parish of Peacehaven formed with its own Vicar

1954 Foundation-stone of current Church building laid on August 3rd by the High Sheriff of Sussex, Mr C W Shelford. Architect was Mr L Keir Hett of Ardingly; builders were T J Braybon & Son of Brighton. Cost of building was £15,000 - raised by public donations and a large gift from the Diocese.

1955 September 27th - the date both of Consecration of the existing Church and the formation of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Peacehaven.

1966 As there was insufficient land for a Churchyard, a Memorial Garden was consecrated for the Interment of Ashes.
Current church hall was built.

1985 The Sussex Chapel was added to the north side of the Church.

Features

Carved above the main door are the opening words to Psalm 95:
Venite Exultemus Deo - O come, let us sing unto the Lord
At the top of the pillars adjacent to the front doors are carvings of:
The feet of Jesus symbolising ‘The Ascension’
A dove symbolising ‘The Holy Spirit’
There is one bell which was cast in 1852 and moved from the redundant All Saints’ Church in Brighton in 1957
The main altar table is made from oak and was taken from the original Church
The altar in the Sussex Chapel is formed of a single slab of Portland stone supported on a plinth of Sussex bricks and into which is formed a cruciform design of local flints from the Peacehaven beach
Stations of the Cross depicting the last hours of Jesus' life
Three marquetry panels donated by the artist, A G Hook:
      Soul at prayer in a deserted place
      The blessed Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus as she looks along life’s road stretching before them both
      Christus Rex - Christ shown as King and High Priest reigning from the Cross in triumph over sin and death
Up-to-date lighting, sound system, toilet and access (including facilities for the disabled)

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History
Pre 1922	Church Services were taken by the Vicar of Piddinghoe and held in the open-air on the cliff-top or in a local building
1922	Daughter Church to St John’s, Piddinghoe built from wood and asbestos on current site of the church hall
1927	3rd November - The Ascension, Peacehaven became a separate district, described as a "Peel District".
1928	Parish of Peacehaven formed with its own Vicar
1954	Foundation-stone of current Church building laid on August 3rd by the High Sheriff of Sussex, Mr C W Shelford. Architect was Mr L Keir Hett of Ardingly; builders were T J Braybon & Son of Brighton. Cost of building was £15,000 - raised by public donations and a large gift from the Diocese.
1955	September 27th - the date both of Consecration of the existing Church and the formation of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Peacehaven.
1966	As there was insufficient land for a Churchyard, a Memorial Garden was consecrated for the Interment of Ashes. Current church hall was built.
1985	The Sussex Chapel was added to the north side of the Church.