Chapel on the Hill

Imagine worshipping God on the village green on a beautiful summers evening. What could be better? Imagine worshipping God on the village green on a cold winters evening. What could be worse.

In the 1880s Sedlescombe's young men were on fire for the Lord, cold would not stop them gathering for worship. They rented barns and other outbuildings until funds were raised to construct the new church building. In just five months the church was built. On Wednesday 26th November 1879 crowds gathered for the opening. The ground was covered in snow but still the people came. The chapel was built to seat 200, but there were many more there that day taking up every inch of space.

The chapel designed by Thomas Elsworthy and built by William Bourns of St Leonards cost £500. On the day of opening £30m still had to be found to balance the books. The building was constructed of brick with terra cotta dressing. Such is the strength of the building that when in November 2016 during storm Angus, a large ash tree fell onto the roof causing much damage, but no collapse! The structural engineer at the time noted that a building constructed after WW1 would almost certainly have caved in.

In 1906 a resolution was passed to build a manse for an evangelist, the house was built in 1907, it is still used today for the same purpose. Much more can be told of the history and can be read in 'The Chapel on the Hill' written by Roy Smith.