9th September 1860 saw the opening of Christ Church, St Leonards on Sea, the first Church to bear that name. This Church built entirely at the personal cost of Lady St John of Bletso, Louisa Vaughan, is still standing, though no longer used as a Church, south and immediately adjacent to the present Christ Church, across the Church courtyard on London Road. 

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As early as 1864 the priest in charge Fr Charles Vaughan, a son of Lady Vaughan (who very sadly passed away in July 1860, before her Church was opened) realised a new, much larger Church would be needed to accommodate the growing congregation.

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1873 Fr Vaughan purchased, at his personal cost the plot of land the present Church is built on from the Eversfield estate.

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