St Leonards Church Community Connection: Transforming a Historic Church into a Vibrant Community Hub

John Puttick Associates has completed a transformative refurbishment of St Leonards Church in Hove, creating a flexible community space while celebrating its rich history. The renovation introduces a striking glulam timber porch with a pitched roof, symbolizing an open welcome to both the congregation and the wider neighborhood. Situated on New Church Road, this Grade-II listed Anglican church dates back to the 13th century. Its Victorian structure features a textured knapped flint facade across a double-nave plan, providing a unique historic character that has been sensitively preserved.

Despite facing closure in 2016 due to a dwindling congregation and the absence of a resident vicar for four years, St Leonards remained active. Meanwhile, the nearby St Peter’s Church in Brighton, with its large, youthful congregation, needed additional facilities. This led to a visionary partnership between St Leonard’s, the Diocese of Chichester, and St Peter’s, combining efforts to reimagine St Leonard’s as a versatile community asset.

Collaborative Design and Community Vision

The refurbishment project was born from a collaborative approach. Thirty members from St Peter’s Church joined Vicar Ali Marshall and the smaller traditional St Leonard’s congregation to envision a space that serves both worship and community engagement. In 2020, John Puttick Associates won an invited competition to bring this vision to life, with funding secured from the Church of England in 2021.

The architects were tasked with creating an adaptable, multi-functional space suitable for a modern, family-oriented congregation. The brief emphasized the need for contemporary amenities, including a heating system and audiovisual integration, to support lively weekend services while respecting the historic fabric.

Architectural Interventions: A New Entrance and Flexible Interiors

A major element of the refurbishment was relocating the main entrance. Previously situated on the south elevation behind a gated porch, it was often perceived as closed off. The architects moved the entrance to the west elevation, a more traditional location, enhancing accessibility and flow.

The new entrance features a 4.5-meter tall glulam timber porch topped with a standing seam zinc roof. Two sets of slatted timber doors open both towards the street and the rear courtyard, promoting permeability and a welcoming atmosphere.

Inside, the church has been reimagined with flexible floor plans. St Leonard’s features two distinct naves: a smaller, traditional southern nave and a larger northern nave for contemporary family services and live music. Glass doors inserted into the original stone arches allow the space to adapt to different community needs while preserving historic features such as the encaustic tiled floors.

Sustainability and Modern Amenities

In line with sustainable design principles, the refurbishment incorporated a new air-source heat pump and an underfloor heating system installed over the original parquet floor, minimizing disruption to historic materials. Ramps at the new porch and south entrance improve accessibility, ensuring the church is welcoming for all.

A café space was introduced in the smaller nave, using repurposed choir stalls for the counter and echoing original herringbone tiling patterns in the new joinery. Timber herringbone cladding on dividing screens and oak slats on the porch reinforce the building’s commitment to heritage while embracing modern functionality.

Enhancing the Exterior and Neighborhood Connection

The project also included landscaping improvements, such as renewed pathways, outdoor seating, and new lighting. Festoon lights along the timber porch have earned St Leonard’s the nickname “Bright and Light Church,” enhancing its visibility and sense of community in the local area.

John Puttick Associates’ sensitive interventions represent the most significant refurbishment at St Leonard’s in decades, ensuring that the church continues to serve both worshippers and the broader community.

Architects’ Reflections

John Puttick, Director of John Puttick Associates, commented: "It has been a pleasure adapting St Leonard's Church to meet contemporary needs. The refurbishment supports both worship and community activities, giving renewed life to the building."

Martin Aberson, Senior Architect, added: "The new timber porch embodies the welcoming nature of the church, with slatted oak gates opening wide to all visitors."

Ali Marshall, Associate Vicar at St Leonard’s Hove Church, shared: "The refurbishment balances historic preservation with modern functionality. The new porch is a stunning feature, warmly welcoming both long-time and new community members."

The St Leonards Church Community Connection project demonstrates how thoughtful design can revitalize historic buildings. Through adaptive reuse, sustainable upgrades, and community-focused planning, this Grade-II listed church continues to thrive as a vibrant cultural and spiritual hub in Brighton and Hove.

All photographs are works of  Gareth Gardner