East Sussex church estate combines the medieval cinque port towns (Hastings, Rye, Winchelsea), the historic Lewes parishes, the Brighton and Hove resort-era churches, and the deeply rural Sussex Weald. Strong heritage church estate with many Grade I and Grade II* parishes.
Notable churches in East Sussex
- St Mary's Brighton (the Pavilion Parish)
- St Bartholomew's Brighton
- St Mary in the Castle Hastings
- St Michael Lewes
- Battle St Mary's (1066 association)
Funding picture in East Sussex
Chichester Diocese Net Zero Programme (up to £22k) combines with Buildings for Mission, the 0% VAT rate for charitable-use buildings (to 31 March 2027), Sussex Community Foundation grants, and Brighton & Hove City Council climate emergency support. A typical funded parish project in East Sussex combines national Buildings for Mission with the diocesan capital programme, Listed Places of Worship VAT for listed buildings, and (often) Allchurches Trust or local foundation grants. Combined coverage of 60-90% of capex is achievable for well-prepared projects.
For full diocese-specific detail see our Diocese of Chichester page or our complete grants and funding guide.
Towns and cities we cover in East Sussex
How we work in East Sussex
- Free desk feasibility — typically inside 7 working days. PCC-ready report covering system size, capex, available grants, payback model.
- On-site survey — structural and electrical engineers visit. Diocesan architect engaged for listed buildings.
- Faculty / Listed Building Consent — for CofE parishes; civil regime for non-CofE buildings.
- Grant applications — Buildings for Mission, diocesan capital, charitable trusts.
- Install and commission — typically 1-3 weeks on site for most parish projects.