[6] The rapid residential growth of Hove in the mid-19th century stimulated development in Aldrington from around 1850, however,[7] and St Leonard's Church was rebuilt from its ruined state to serve the area.

[11] It was extended at a cost of about £4,000 (£515,800 in 2025)[10] between 1909 and 1910,[11][12] at which point the deeds transferring ownership of the land from the Duke of Portland to the rector of St Leonard's Church was found to be invalid.

[11] The west end of the church was converted into a hall in 1956;[13] a large (300 sq ft) Sussex-themed mural was painted on the dividing wall by the muralist Augustus Lunn in 1957 and 1958.

[11][14] The church received national attention in its centenary year when an edition of the long-running BBC Radio programme Any Questions?

[11] On 10 March 1995, three major political figures and The Spectator deputy editor Anne Applebaum took part in a debate and answered questions from the audience.

[15] Architecturally it is broadly Gothic Revival[3] in the Decorated style,[16][17] and is distinguished by its impressive use of building materials of various colours and types.

[9][12] Knapped flintwork, limestone, Bath Stone and red brickwork are combined in complex patterns all over the exterior;[9] the extension of 1909–1910 was consistent with this, and is indistinguishable from the older section.

[2][11][18] Local firm Cox & Barnard supplied three of these: designer Anthony Gilbert provided a window in the south chapel in 1955, depicting Saint George and commemorating parishioner George Howell; in 1960 Paul Chapman designed another window in the same part of the church, in memory of William Cheverton – it depicts Saint Cecilia holding a musical instrument and crowned with "an unusual halo resembling yellow laurel leaves interspersed with roses" – and in the same year, a window commemorating Halcyon Ann Lopez and depicting the virtue of Charity was installed in the south side of the nave.