St Mary's Church, Hampden Park, Eastbourne

Until the early 19th century, the area covered by the present town of Eastbourne was thinly populated: there were four small settlements separated by farmland. The oldest, originally known as Bourne and now known as the Old Town, was the site of the old parish church. Residential development was focused on the seafront until the start of the 20th century, when suburbs began to develop inland around the main roads and railway line. These were initially served by the ancient parish church of Willingdon, a village which was later surrounded by 20th-century housing. Housing developed near Hampden Park railway station (initially named Willingdon) after it opened in 1888. In June 1906, the vicar…

St. Mary's Church became one of the first postwar churches to gain listed status, and it has been praised for the "sculptural quality of its interior" and its "attractive" Perpendicular Gothic Revival form "refined by Maufe in a very personal way". Describing the style as "quintessential Maufe" featuring "the most distinctive elements of his personal style", architectural historian Elain Harwood called it "one of his most charming designs". The style is a simplified, unadorned interpretation of Perpendicular Gothic Revival with elements of the domestic Vernacular style—in particular in the treatment of the wood-framed nave windows. The plan comprises a nave with north and south aisles…

St Mary's Church was listed as Grade II by English Heritage on 25 September 1998. This defines it as a "nationally important" building of "special interest". In February 2001, it was one of 100 Grade II listed buildings, and 109 listed buildings of all grades in the borough of Eastbourne. Few postwar buildings have this status: English Heritage states that "post-1945 buildings have to be exceptionally important to be listed", as the criteria become stricter the newer a building is. Now separately parished, but part of a joint benefice with St Mary's Church, is St Peter's Church in the Hydneye housing estate. Started in 1953 and completed in the 1970s, the brick church took the dedication of…