Worthing Tabernacle

Many places of worship were founded in Worthing after its incorporation as a town in 1803: the following decades were a period of rapid growth as a prestigious seaside resort. One such chapel was built in 1839—probably by Charles Hide, a locally important architect and builder—on Montague Street (the old road to Heene), for independent (non-denominational) Christian worship. The chapel was known as the Tabernacle. It later became associated with Calvinism and Congregationalist worship, and was also used briefly in 1854 as an Anglican church (during which time it was temporarily dedicated to St John the Baptist). By 1893, when local architect Resta Moore had designed a new Classical-style…

Worthing Tabernacle has a distinctive exterior and an imposing, elaborate interior laid out like an auditorium. These are topped by intricately designed capitals. A partly granite chancel arch divides the interior into two bays. In the front bay, an elaborate double-deck pulpit, carved wooden galleries and pews survive from when the church was built. To the rear of the chapel, a modern organ and case have replaced the original equipment, which was apparently retrieved from Walmer Castle in Kent.