Search churches in Brighton
Find churches across Brighton, Hove and the East Sussex coast.
Brighton's remarkable church buildings
- St Bartholomew's, Ann Street: a colossal brick church of 1874, its nave among the tallest in Europe, built to serve the railway workers' terraces. The Anglo-Catholic worship inside, with incense and fine music, matches the building's drama.
- St Peter's, York Place: Charles Barry's grand Gothic Revival church at the heart of the city, revitalised from near closure in 2009 by a team from Holy Trinity Brompton and now one of the largest congregations on the south coast, planting further churches along the seaboard.
- St Paul's, West Street: a Victorian Anglo-Catholic landmark moments from the beach, long associated with ministry to the town's visitors.
- St Michael and All Angels: a treasure house of Pre-Raphaelite glass by Burne-Jones and Morris in the Montpelier streets.
- St John the Baptist, Kemptown: the historic Catholic church where Maria Fitzherbert, secret wife of George IV, lies buried.
Church by the sea
Brighton and Hove's church scene reflects the city itself: varied, informal and surprisingly warm. Alongside the Anglican spectrum, from high ceremonial at St Bartholomew's to contemporary worship at St Peter's, the city holds Catholic parishes, Baptist and Methodist churches, Elim and newer Pentecostal congregations, and independent churches such as One Church Brighton with deep roots in the city's social life. Church-run projects are prominent here, including night shelters, food banks and work with the city's homeless community. The universities bring students into churches across town each autumn, and many congregations make a point of welcoming people who have found church difficult elsewhere.
Browse Brighton churches in the directory
See every church we list in Brighton, or explore Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes and the coast on our East Sussex county page.
Practical notes for visitors
- Sunday services run across the day, from 8am said services to 6.30pm evening gatherings; St Peter's holds several services each Sunday.
- St Bartholomew's is generally open during the day and worth entering for the sheer scale alone.
- Most central churches are within 15 minutes' walk of Brighton station; parking near the seafront is expensive, so arrive by train if you can.
- Come as you are; Brighton's congregations are notably relaxed about dress and newcomers.
Frequently asked questions
Is St Bartholomew's really taller than Westminster Abbey?
Its nave is, yes. At roughly 41 metres to the roof, St Bartholomew's has one of the tallest naves of any parish church in Europe, a startling sight rising from the surrounding streets.
What is a resource church?
A church, like St Peter's, resourced to grow and then plant or revitalise other congregations. Brighton's example is one of the most cited in the Church of England, having helped renew several churches along the Sussex coast.