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Welcome to Christ Church, Blacklands & St. Andrew, Laton Road, Hastings

Blacklands:  Back to Our Roots!

Once upon a time, that is before 1066, there was a little place of Christian worship in a woodland hilltop setting close to the top of what we now know as Elphinstone Road. At some time stones were laid to form a “building”, and it assumed the name of Ore Church (St. Helen). The surrounding area was called a parish, and covered an area between old parishes, like St. Clement, Hollington and Guestling. As the population increased, so did the number of communities and churches, and smaller parishes evolved. In 1859, Christ Church in Ore Village to the east opened, and in 1877 Christ Church Blacklands to the south opened, both subsequently becoming separate parishes. By 1868, the centuries old edifice at the top of the hill was in great disrepair, and it was replaced by a new church of St. Helen opened in 1870 on the London Road (re-named The Ridge in the 1930’s).

And our ‘roots’? They must surely lay in that “old “ruined church of Ore. But today we could call it “new”, because in 2012 the Sussex Heritage Trust, with Lottery and other funding, engaged on a restoration project which included an archaeological ‘dig’ (with over 100 volunteers) uncovering much historical evidence spanning over 1,000 years.

The newest addition is an internal staircase within the ancient tower to a viewing platform which commands extensive views as far as Beachy Head, etc. The site (off Ore Place) displays information panels, and schools all over 1066 country will be paying educational visits from now onwards. The first public OPEN DAY (exhibits and guided tours) will be on Saturday 18th MAY between 10 am and 4 pm. The next scheduled is Heritage weekend , Saturday and Sunday 14th and 15th September, when an Open-air Service is planned for 4 pm on the Sunday afternoon.

Don Valentine.

Blacklands:  Back to Our Roots!