History

St Mary in the Castle was designed and constructed in 1824 when Thomas Pelham, Earl of Chichester, began proceedings for a crescent to be built incorporating a Neoclassical church nestled amongst several impressive town houses. Awarded its Grade II* listing in 1951, by 1986 St Mary was no longer used by the CofE and came close to being added to the Buildings at Risk register. Fortunately it was rescued by a local campaign which resulted in Hastings Borough Council acquiring the freehold to the building.

Since this crisis St Mary in the Castle has gone from strength to strength. As one of the proudest monuments in Hastings' history, the former church re-opened as an Arts Centre in 1998, further safeguarded as such after a ten-year lease was signed in 2015.

Facilities

This unique building contains several distinctive areas, which affords you a greater degree of customisation of your wedding day.

The Adelaide Auditorium

The Adelaide Auditorium is a truly magnificent space in which to enjoy your ceremony and then celebrate your marriage. Guests will have an amazing view of the formalities from the Box Pew Gallery, and later on you can all dance the night away underneath the grand domed roof. The Adelaide Auditorium's original stained-glass window enhances the wonderfully historic atmosphere of this building, making it an excellent choice for your entire celebration - ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening reception party.

Civil Ceremony Capacity - 400 Guests
Formal Reception Capacity - 400 Guests
Evening Reception Capacity - 450 Guests

The Palladian Portico

When driving along the Hastings promenade you simply cannot miss St Mary's striking Palladian portico. These magnificent Ionic columns overlook the English Channel, presenting a great backdrop for wedding photographs or hosting reception arrival drinks.

The Crypt

For a venue that's a little bit different, St Mary's offers couples the chance to host reception arrival drinks in its atmospheric crypt.

Catering

As St Mary in the Castle don't currently offer an in-house catering service, they instead offer a select list of preferred high-quality external caterers from which you can choose. Couples will be charged a small fee to allow catering to be organised at the venue.

Accommodation

Although it is not possible to stay overnight at St Mary in the Castle itself, the venue is located near the centre of Hastings, and so there are a number of hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs nearby where you can easily find accommodation for your wedding guests.

For more information, get in touch with the hospitality team at St Mary in the Castle by using the contact details below.