How a former St Leonards' church is bringing the community together

In 2019, Chris Ostwald bought the former St Leonards-on-Sea Congregational Church at the corner of London Road and Pevensey Road. Since then, he has been restoring the building largely on his own.

Chris said: "I saw this church going up for sale in the local estate agent's window. So, I came and had a look, and it blew my mind. I had to go and have a lie down; there was so much to do, so much work. I ended up buying it and have spent seven years, so far, doing it up.

"The reason I bought it was that other people interested in the building were going to turn it into flats, and I just thought, 'What a waste, such a huge community asset this is, something for the community to use for not only markets but events, weddings and concerts.'

"We've got a classical concert coming up; we've got gigs coming up. We're acquiring more and more things as we go along. We're buying lighting rigs, stage equipment and sound systems."

Chris has over 35 years of experience in retail and hospitality and plans to open a café on the church's front steps. The church market, which started just over two years ago, has become a popular weekly attraction, featuring food, drink, and a wide variety of independent stallholders. Chris's fiancée, Rong Jiang, is also deeply involved in the project, overseeing social media and event organisation. As the venue has grown in popularity, they have recently taken on a market and venue manager.

"When will it ever be finished? That's the question," Chris added.

"I think with a building this size you often find that you're going back to the beginning, clearing the gutters that you cleared a year ago, and so you're constantly having to go back over things. We have plans for a big café on the front steps overlooking the sea, but that still has to be finished: reconstructing the steps, building a kitchen. There's loads of work still to go, and I don't think that it will ever be finished in my mind.

"The local people are really supportive, but it's for the good of the community. It could have been flats; there would be nowhere to park. You'd never see the interior of the building again. It would just be divided into floors and corridors and things. So I think I'll put it in the deeds that it can never be turned into flats; then its future is guaranteed."

Chris's project was highlighted in an episode of 'Homes Under the Hammer' that aired in October 2022, when he ambitiously estimated a six-month turnaround.

You can find out more about the project and venue hire at https://loveamarket.co.uk/