St Peter's Church, St Leonards-on-Sea

Sonrise Church at St Peter's
St Peter's and St Paul's Church
The church from the south
50°51′39″N 0°33′41″E / 50.8608°N 0.5614°E / 50.8608; 0.5614
Location	St Peter's Road/Cornfield Terrace, St Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings, East Sussex TN37 6RA
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Independent Evangelical
Previous denomination	Anglican
History
Status	Church
Founded	1883
Founder(s)	Blanche E. Elliott (benefactor)
Events	1 November 2011: declared redundant by Diocese of Chichester 10 February 2016: registered for the use of Sonrise Church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	14 September 1976
Architect(s)	James Brooks
Style	Early English Gothic Revival
Completed	1885
Construction cost	Approx. £11,000
Administration
Archdiocese	Lewes and Hastings (until 2011)
Diocese	Diocese of Chichester (until 2011)
Deanery	Hastings (until 2011)
Parish	St Leonards-on-Sea: Christ Church and St Mary Magdalen [sic] (until 2011)

St Peter's Church is a former Anglican church in the Bohemia area of the town and seaside resort of St Leonards-on-Sea, part of the Borough of Hastings in East Sussex, England. Founded in 1883 in response to the rapid residential growth of this part of St Leonards-on-Sea, the "outstanding late Victorian church"^[1] was completed and opened in 1885. Architect James Brooks was towards the end of his career but still produced a successful, powerful Gothic Revival design, which was built by prolific local firm John Howell & Son—builders of several other churches in the area.

After the closure and demolition of the nearby St Paul's Church and the merging of the parishes, the legal names of the parish and church were changed to St Peter's and St Paul's Church. The church came to national attention in 2009 when its long-serving vicar was arrested for organising sham marriages. The church was declared redundant by the Diocese of Chichester in 2011; since 2010 it has been home to Sonrise Church—an independent Evangelical congregation. English Heritage has listed it at Grade II* for its architectural and historical importance.