St. John the Baptist's Church, Brighton

Saint John the Baptist Church is a significant Roman Catholic church located in the Kemptown area of Brighton and Hove. As the first Roman Catholic church to be built in Brighton following the Catholic Emancipation of the early 19th century, it holds considerable historical importance. This emancipation marked the removal of restrictions on Catholic worship in the UK, paving the way for the construction of such churches.

The church is situated on Bristol Road, a prominent thoroughfare to the east of Brighton's city center, and is one of 11 Catholic churches in the city. Completed in 1835, the church was funded by Maria Fitzherbert, a notable figure in Catholic history, and was designed by architect William Hallett. Interestingly, Hallett is not known to have designed any other buildings in Brighton or elsewhere, and he closely modeled the design of Saint John the Baptist's Church on Saint Mary Moorfields in London, which was completed in 1820.

Architecturally, the church is a fine example of Classical style, featuring a stuccoed exterior, a shallow slate roof, and a large pediment above the entrance. The entrance porch is flanked by two columns and accompanying pilasters, with additional pilasters at the building's corners. The façade also includes blind doorways with small pediments and two deep-set windows above them. Below the main pediment and dentil cornice is a Latin inscription that reads: "To God, under the invocation of Saint John the Baptist." A side entrance on the western face of the building also features a pediment.

The church continues to serve the Catholic community in Brighton, holding Masses on Saturday evenings, Sunday mornings, and Holy Days of Obligation. Recognizing its architectural and historical significance, English Heritage has listed Saint John the Baptist Church as a Grade II* building since October 13, 1952.