Hope for historic chapel

AN historic Seaford chapel and war memorial could be saved from demolition.

The chapel at St Mary s Nursing Home in Kingsmead has a 14th Century font and memorial to local soldiers who died the Second World War.

Owner Westminster Health Care Ltd plans to redevelop the site as its current home does not meet new Government guidelines.

However, hope could be on the horizon as Lewes District Council has submitted a bid to have the chapel Listed and Westminster has said it could be saved if its bid for New Opportunities funding is successful.

If the bid is unsuccessful Westminster plans to use the land for house building to fund its plans.

Seaford s MP Norman Baker has spearheaded a campaign to save the building. He said: 'We are making progress. Westminster Health Care is now well aware of the strong wish of many local people to see the chapel retained and I believe that they are looking at the matter seriously.

'It is indisputable, however, that the building is in a poor state of repair, which makes it more difficult to secure its retention unchanged. I am hopeful though that the chapel may be saved in some form on site.

The chapel, which was created from a 17th Century barn, was brought from Ripe to Seaford and rebuilt in 1926 when St Mary s was a school.

Students, who were later killed as soldiers in the war, played an active part in the rebuilding of the chapel. To honour their sacrifice they were remembered in memorials laid in the window sills.

If the chapel cannot be saved Westminster has agreed to incorporate as much of the chapel as possible into the new care home development.