St Leonard's Church

St Leonard's Church is a church in Hastings, rebuilt after wartime destruction and combining Gothic style elements with modern design. The structure features pointed arches, a prominent bell tower, and large windows that flood the interior with light.

The original building was destroyed by a German flying bomb in 1944, after which architects designed the replacement. Reconstruction work took roughly a decade before the church reopened for services.

The building demonstrates how religious spaces were reimagined after World War II, merging contemporary construction methods with traditional design principles. Today, visitors can observe how the interior serves both spiritual and community purposes.

Access from the front is straightforward, offering a direct view toward the sea from the entrance. The lower hall is used as a market on Saturdays, so checking for public events beforehand helps plan a visit.

Few places along England's south coast offer an unobstructed sea view from a church entrance. This unusual alignment makes the location particularly photogenic at sunset.

Location: Hastings

Inception: 1832

Architects: James Burton, Giles Gilbert Scott, Adrian Gilbert Scott

Architectural style: Gothic Revival

Website: http://stleonardschurch.org/welcome.htm

GPS coordinates: 50.85130,0.55140

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:07