All Saints Sidley History
Our Parish Church records date back to 1874. It records that for some centuries Sidley was a small hamlet in the parish of S. Peter's, Bexhill. St Peter's is still our Patron today. It can be imagined that Sidley consisted of a collection of farmsteads and cottages set in the uplands in this part of Sussex a mile from the church on the hill which was built within 150 years of the landing of William the Conqueror in the neighbourhood.
Sidley remained in this isolation until the year 1865, when a National School was built and opened the following year. The school was intended both for educational purposes and public worship on Sundays. It continued to be used for these joint purposes until 1885, when an iron Church was built on the adjoining site. The school remained and all worship was transferred to the iron church.
In the year 1909 the Iron Church gave way to the stone Church. The Nave was built that year and in successive years the chancel, tower and other parts through a generous donation from a parishioner called John David Atchison. The Church was completed and then consecrated by the Bishop of Chichester on All Saints Day 1930. A month later it became a separate Parish from S. Peters.
Priests In Charge of Sidley
AD
1878 Rev. James Puttick
1885 Rev. John Cother
1889 Rev. Edward Adams
1892 Vacant
1901 Rev. William Brook
1907 Rev. Cuthbert Wigan
1914 Rev. Hubert Ellam
1925 Rev. Edward Somesset
1929 Rev. John Powell
Vicars of Sidley
1931 Rev. John Powell
Assistant Priests
1932 Rev. Alfred Maitland
1936 Rev. Rev. Robert Nicholls
1938 Rev. John Russell
Records End and the following is being updated.
Fr. David Jarmie
Fr. Norman Taylor SSC
Fr. Trevor Buxton SSC
Fr Michael Bailey CMP is currently Priest in Charge (appointed in 2014)
Sidley remained in this isolation until the year 1865, when a National School was built and opened the following year. The school was intended both for educational purposes and public worship on Sundays. It continued to be used for these joint purposes until 1885, when an iron Church was built on the adjoining site. The school remained and all worship was transferred to the iron church.
In the year 1909 the Iron Church gave way to the stone Church. The Nave was built that year and in successive years the chancel, tower and other parts through a generous donation from a parishioner called John David Atchison. The Church was completed and then consecrated by the Bishop of Chichester on All Saints Day 1930. A month later it became a separate Parish from S. Peters.
Priests In Charge of Sidley
AD
1878 Rev. James Puttick
1885 Rev. John Cother
1889 Rev. Edward Adams
1892 Vacant
1901 Rev. William Brook
1907 Rev. Cuthbert Wigan
1914 Rev. Hubert Ellam
1925 Rev. Edward Somesset
1929 Rev. John Powell
Vicars of Sidley
1931 Rev. John Powell
Assistant Priests
1932 Rev. Alfred Maitland
1936 Rev. Rev. Robert Nicholls
1938 Rev. John Russell
Records End and the following is being updated.
Fr. David Jarmie
Fr. Norman Taylor SSC
Fr. Trevor Buxton SSC
Fr Michael Bailey CMP is currently Priest in Charge (appointed in 2014)
