The story so far…
2021 saw the start of new services at St Leonard's and a new team of clergy, staff and volunteers. But years of hard work, collaboration and vision have got us to this amazing place.
When St Leonard’s was faced with closure in 2016, the small congregation and local community fought to keep it going. The fact that the church has stayed open without a vicar for so long is because of the determination and devotion of that group of people. The desire to see St Leonard’s returned to its glory days at the heart of the community, with a full and thriving congregation, led to conversations between St Leonard’s PCC, the Diocese of Chichester and St Peter’s, Brighton, to try and create a partnership which would help to achieve this dream. In spring 2021, Chichester Diocese was successful in a fundraising bid for money from the central Church of England which will fund church growth in Brighton and Hove, and St Leonard’s is a key part of that strategy.
Since spring 2021, a team made up of staff and volunteers at both St Leonard’s and St Peter’s began putting into place their plans for the church: a fully refurbished church hall (complete with redesigned kitchen) by the end of 2021, and an improved and upgraded church building (including accessible facilities) in 2023. Alongside these practical changes, in autumn 2021 two of the St Peter’s clergy team were licensed to the parish of St Leonard’s.
The future
The works to the church finished in early 2024 and we can’t wait for the season ahead.