Christ Church Ore
Hastings, Sussex
A Grade II listed Victorian, decorative gothic church full of history and fascinating surprises, set in attractive gardens containing the village cenotaph and within walking distance of Ore village shops.
The first church was founded by the Saxon King Offa after defeating the Haestingas tribe in 771 and dedicated to St Helena, the mother of Roman Emperor Constantine.
The present church was built in 1870 by Rector Turner, his plaque can be seen in the chancel. The gabled aisles incorporating short round columns, over large capitals and exaggerated arches, the striking stained glass windows featuring bold element tracers with an impressive east window and a huge plain west window that glows with the setting sun and the wooden ceiling with elaborate arch work present a pretty example of Victorian architecture. The church clock tower houses a refurbished 1870 clock that chimes every hour and a 200+ old beech tree with 5 limbs towers over the church. The gardens are managed to promote biodiversity and ecological awareness and are open to the public.
Some of the stained glass windows contain glass salvaged from the original church windows. St Helena, St George, St Edmund, the Saxon king of East Anglia martyred fighting the Vikings and St Oswald, the Saxon king of North Northumbria killed fighting the pagan Mercians are depicted over the wall plaques for the first and second world wars. Separate windows portray St Martin, the son of a roman soldier who became bishop of Tours in the Loire province, St Alban, the first British martyred roman soldier, St Columba who founded the Iona monastery and helped convert the Scottish. New testament characters are also colourfully represented; St Paul and his friend Priscilla, and Dorcas who made clothes for the poor and was raised from the dead by St Peter and from the old testament Miriam, sister of Moses. The remaining windows show influential evangelists. Charles Simeon of the Missionary Society, Bishop Handley Moule of Durham, one of Simeon’s trustees and Bishop Nicholas Ridley a reformation leader burnt at the stake.
There are many wall plaques rescued from the original church including James Murray, the Governor of Quebec Province and an ancient 1430 brass. As well as a brochure there is even a book written by Reverend Bullock!