An update on future of Eastbourne church earmarked for demolition

The Church Commissioners, the body managing the historic property assets of the Church of England, is forging ahead with a plan to knock down the listed building, built in 1938 at the request of a parishioner, after several attempts to convert it to residential accommodation failed and any restoration project deemed to be financially impossible.

It is hoped the site will be used for community use after the landmark building is demolished, which is expected to take up to 22 weeks.

Next door at the new St Elisabeth’s Church, leaders said that while it would be emotional to see the church knocked down, it was exciting the challenging chapter is finally drawing to a close.

A spokesperson said, “The pastoral scheme for St Elisabeth’s old church has now come into effect. This is the legal document that gives permission for its demolition. This is the demolition of the old church, not the old vicarage as that is seen as a separate site and while the site will be sold as a whole, the pastoral scheme only affects the old church.

“The site of the old church has now been handed over to the demolition firm. Having secured the site, one of the first tasks will be to carefully and respectfully move the old garden of remembrance next to the new garden of remembrance.

“A team of specialists have removed the Feibusch Pilgrims’ Progress murals from the crypt of the old church, which are now being stored off-site.

“What will be built on it we do not yet know, although, it will probably be housing.

“We do not know how long redevelopment will take but it is amazing that we are finally at this point,”