Friends fund £10k restoration of fabric of Hove church

A Hove church has had its antique altar frontals restored thanks to a £10,000 donation by supporters.

All Saints Church in The Drive, Hove, has been undergoing something of a revival in terms of its congregation as well as its fixtures and fittings.

The four altar frontals are part of the fabric of the church and suffered damage from, among other things, light exposure and candle wax.

The different coloured frontals mark the different seasons of the church year.

The restoration was funded by the Friends of All Saints Hove and the delicate work was carried out over several months by a specialist London company called Plowden and Smith.

The vicar of All Saints Phil Ritchie said that the church was grateful to the Friends for their generous support.

He said: “Some of the Friends are parishioners and some are people who just have a great interest in our history and heritage.”

The Friends held a relaunch earlier this year with an open day on Saturday 10 March.

They showed people around the Victorian gothic revival building and raised funds through an afternoon tea.

A similar “celebration Saturday” event is planned for Saturday 9 March next year, followed by evensong.

The Friends are now turning their attention to the welcome area where visitors and the congregation gather when services are not taking place.

The Friends and the church are keen that the building should be open more of the time and better used.

Although the welcome area serves Small Batch coffee, the water has to be carried from a small kitchen at the other end of the church.

The toilets are downstairs and, given the building’s Grade I listed status, any alterations require careful and sensitive preparation as well as planning permission and listed building consent.

All Saints is holding a series of “heritage open days” this week – from Thursday 6 September to Sunday 9 September – with guided tours on offer.

The church will be open from 9am to noon on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and either side of the Sunday morning service which starts at 10am.

And the All Saints Jazz Festival takes place on Saturday 22 September and Sunday 23 September.

A show was held at the church during Brighton Fashion Week earlier this year. And next year it is likely to become one of the venues for the Brighton Festival.

To join the Friends of All Saints Hove or make a donation email friends@allsaintshove.org.