St Mary-in-the-Castle Church, Hastings

The Church with Catacombs and a burial ground plus a further burial ground in Wallinger Walks was built in 1828 as a private chapel under a special Act of Parliament - the first incumbent being the Rev William Wallinger (1828 - 1834)

The church which is of unique design, gained its inspiration from the Pantheon in Rome and has an 'inner' as well as an 'outer' wall with a wide space between to prevent dampness from the cliff, whilst the Georgian Pews are built on top of the rock face on props and inside there is a natural flowing spring (used for baptisms)

In 1884 the Earl of Chichester presented his chapel to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and it became the parish church of St Mary-in-the-Castle.

It became the Royal Church of Queen Adelaide who resided at St Leonards when William IV died.

Underneath the church the catacombs and burial ground with its vaults are laid out in a Spanish Style.

The 1851 Religious Census of The Chapel of St Mary in the Castle.

Built under private act in 1827 at the cost of £13,000 by Earl of Chichester.

Free Seats 550 about, others 750 - Total 1300

Morning attendance 100 + 200 = 1200

Evening attendance 800

The numbers are only a probable computation

Thomas Vores, Perpetual Curate, Hastings. 

Understanding the codes in St Mary-in-the-Castle

Burials in Crypt beneath the Church

CA01 = Crypt, Aisle A - No 1;  CF04 = Crypt, Aisle F, No 4

Memorial Tablets on the Walls of the Church

All of the tablets erected in the aisles around the church are of White Marble with the exception of 'Bathgate' which is Carved Oak and 'Miller' which is Engraved Brass.  All transcriptions begin with IA (Inner Aisle)

Wallinger Walk Cemetery

All the transcriptions begin with WW