Built in 1867–68 to serve new residential development in the southeast of the town, the Decorated Gothic-style structure was extended later in the 19th century, and expanded its reach further by founding three mission halls elsewhere in Worthing.

Worthing experienced rapid development in the first quarter of the 19th century, encouraged by royal patronage and the effect of nearby Brighton—one of England's most fashionable and desirable resorts at the time.

[1][2] In the first few decades of the town's existence, however, little building work took place east of the road from Broadwater to the coast: the land was marshy and difficult to develop.

[5][6] Long-time East Worthing resident Alfred Longley, who wrote several books about the area,[3] recorded the name of the builder as a Mr Longhurst.

[7] Architectural sketches of the proposed tower showed a tall, spire-topped structure with lancet openings rising at the southwest corner.

[5][11] St George's Church has been praised for its architectural quality, especially in view of its relatively low cost of construction: the budget was set at £5,000 (equivalent to £568,000 in 2025).

[7][14] The plan features a wide chancel and aisled nave, both of which have prominent apses at the geographical north end, a gable-roofed entrance porch leading to a narthex with hipped roofs, a small belfry topped with a stone spirelet, and a vestry.

[13][14] The interior is simple and open, and reminded architectural historians Ian Nairn and Nikolaus Pevsner of Sir Christopher Wren's ecclesiastical works: they described it as "very intelligent, rational, [...] logical [and lacking] the artificial piety of the 1860s".

The structure, one of the smallest places of worship in Sussex and now used as a garage, was referred to in jest as "The Cathedral" by locals during its 29 years of religious use.

Its boundaries are the railway line to the north, the border with Adur district to the east, the English Channel to the south and the High Street and Steyne to the west.