How vicar incurred the wrath of his congregation

I understand that alterations to ancient churches are not always welcome but one must remember that most Sussex churches (including that of Seaford) have been restored on many occasions in the past.

The Victorians, particularly, did much damage to ancient churches. St Leonard's was dramatically restored in the latter years of the 18th century while Thomas Evans was the vicar. In building a new chancel many of the original Norman walls were destroyed.

When the Reverend James Carnegie was the vicar in the early 1860s more dramatic alterations took place. A committee chaired by the vicar included the London surgeon, Dr William Tyler-Smith and Major Harison of Sutton Lodge. They decided to remove all the old box pews and lower the church floor.

The chancel built a few years earlier was demolished. The nave was extended by a few feet and a new chancel built. Part of the south aisle was removed which meant that the old Norman arch there became a feature of the outside of the church. I mentioned last week about the music gallery at the west end of the church. This was removed at this time as was the external staircase which gave access to it, just to the left of the porch. The pitch of the church roof was altered to allow more light into the church and the 15th century porch was replaced by a wooden one. Shortly after this work, the Rev William Henry Buck-Mead became vicar.

He found that even minor changes were controversial to the Seaford congregation when he introduced a cross and candlesticks to the altar. These items, which are still in place, caused a furore. He was accused of 'papist ritualism' and the local press called the items 'gingerbread gilt cross and candlesticks' It was reported that four-fifths of the congregation were so upset about these items that they threatened to leave and the vicar even had his windows broken on four occasions.

The vicar did arrange less controversial alterations and in 1882 the church tower was restored. The old western doorway which leads on to Church Street was re-opened and the old medieval archway was replaced by a new one '“ now badly worn. The church tower is 21 metres (nearly 69 feet) tall and is tiled with a 'Sussex Cap' roof. There is checker work with Caen stone and flint similar to the church tower at St Mary's, Eastbourne, with metre high 'consecration crosses' picked out in flint on three sides.

You will often hear the bells ringing. The ringing chamber is inside the tower and reached by a stone staircase. The bells were fitted in the 1720s and were made by John Waylett, an itinerant bell caster who also made the bells for the churches in Mayfield, Laughton, Burwash and Ripe. In 1807, Seaford MP John Leach gave 100 towards a new peal of bells and these were cast in Whitechapel. They arrived in June 1811 drawn by Leach's own horses.

The clock was originally on the east side of the tower but was moved to the south side in 1785. A hundred years later it was replaced by a clock showing on three faces. It was presented to the church by a Miss Ann Ockenden in memory of her parents.

So the parish church has seen many changes in its long and interesting history. In my humble opinion, the recent alterations have made the church brighter and provide much better facilities for worshippers. Why not have a look inside the church when you are next in Seaford and see for yourself!

KEVIN GORDON