Of the three Christ Churches in Hastings, this is the biggest - the first stage in 1875 cost £20,000 (PP 125), though a church for the inland parts of St Leonards had been built in 1859-60 (SH 5 p139).   From the beginning it was intended for ritualist worship.  Even before consecration in 1884, it was fitted out accordingly and the glass and fittings are the most opulent in the town (see below).  The architect was Sir A W Blomfield (B 33 p514). 

Blomfield was probably the most prolific church architect of late Victorian England and though it has many of his favourite mannerisms, like the east window of five stepped lancets in a single arch, this is one of his more successful designs.  The east end overlooking the road is most visible.  The smooth interior walls contrast with the rough exterior and there are six-bay arcades of some complexity.  The only light comes from the shafted clerestory, for the low aisles have no windows.  The roofs are boarded and there is no chancel arch.  Instead, the chancel is marked by a mighty roodbeam, carved by Earp, Son and Hobbs (B 47 p843), with cusping above.

Placed unusually at the eastern end of the north aisle, a chapel with a vaulted apse forms the lowest stage of the tower, which was added in 1894 (CDG 7 p113), but was planned from the start.  The base is square because of the chapel, but the octagonal upper part has large bell-openings and a stone spire with lucarnes.  The west end was altered in 1919-20 to accommodate the organ gallery (VCH 9 p26), which stands on three arches, and to provide a memorial chapel.  The architect was L T Moore (Brandwood p244), probably completing a project started by his partner, T Moore. 

Fittings and monument

Brass: Rev C L Vaughan (d1895) by Clayton and Bell.  He was the first vicar, whose mother paid for the building (SH 5 ibid).
Font: 1907.  White marble, with a crocketed and gabled top.
Glass:
1.  (East window) J Hardman and Co, 1875 (B 33 p1090).
2.  (North chapel, east, first and second windows) Heaton, Butler and Bayne, 1877 (www.stainedglassrecords.org retrieved on 28/3/2013).
3.  (Baptistery, south and west windows) Heaton, Butler and Bayne, 1877 (ibid).
4.  (Chancel, first and second north clerestory windows) J Hardman and Co, 1882 (Index).
5.  (Nave clerestory) Burlison and Grylls, 1903 (www.stainedglassrecords.org retrieved on 28/3/2013).
6.  (West window) Burlison and Grylls, 1904 (ibid).
Mosaics and reredos: Part of the chancel fittings and probably by Blomfield.
Pulpit: Marble and alabaster.  Blomfield and carved by T Earp, 1884 (B 47 p843).
Stations of the Cross: Plaster by Faith Craft, designed by I Howgate, c1946 (information from Fr Stephen Keeble).