St Mary Magdalene's Church, St Leonards-on-Sea

St Mary Magdalene's Church is a stone building from the 19th century with Gothic elements, distinguished by its clerestoried nave and five-bay aisles. The structure was built according to Victorian design principles for religious purposes and retains its original architecture.

Architect Frederick Marrable designed the Anglican church in 1852 to serve the growing population of St Leonards. In the 1980s the building lost its original religious function and was transferred to a Greek Orthodox congregation.

The church serves an Eastern European congregation today, showing how religious spaces transform their meaning over time. The interior has been adapted for different worship practices while keeping the Victorian structure intact.

The building is a protected monument and has undergone restoration with grant support that may affect visiting arrangements. Visitors should check opening times beforehand since the structure functions as an active place of worship.

The building underwent restoration with grants to secure its future even though it had lost its original purpose. This support shows how historical structures can be preserved through new uses.