A RAILWAY station would be full of boys “crying their eyes out” after coming back to start term at their boarding schools, according to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Most Reverend Justin Welby attended St Peter’s school in Seaford from 1964 until 1968.

The 66-year-old said he remembers getting the train down from London Victoria to Seaford for the start of term time along with other students who would come to board at one of Seaford’s seven private schools.

The Archbishop spoke about his early childhood in Sussex while at All Saints Church in The Drive, Hove, where he met refugees and the Network for International Women, which is a support group for women.

Archbishop Justin said: “You would have these very long trains coming into Seaford. We used to get a school train from Victoria, change at Lewes to Seaford.

“All the schools would arrive back on the same day, Seaford station was full of nine year old boys crying their eyes out.

The Argus: The Archbishop Justin Welby at All Saints church in Hove - picture by Film Like a Girl ProductionsThe Archbishop Justin Welby at All Saints church in Hove - picture by Film Like a Girl Productions

“The school doesn’t exist anymore, it was called St Peter’s. It has turned into a housing estate now. We used to play St Aubyn’s at different sports and they always won.

“I was in Seaford from 1964 until 1968, then went off to Eton until 1973, then Cambridge after that.”

St Peter’s was near where the recently demolished Newlands school was. Newlands has also been turned into a housing estate.

The Argus: The front of St Peter's School - picture by Tim FarebrotherThe front of St Peter's School - picture by Tim Farebrother

Archbishop Justin went to Eton from St Peter's and then Trinity College in Cambridge.

His trip to Sussex came as part of visit to see St Peter's Church in York Place, Brighton and All Saints Church in The Drive, Hove.

Both churches have received funding from Church of England investment called strategic transformation funding (STF) which aims to help dioceses facing “significant financial challenges”.

The Argus: Seaford Train Station in 1962, picture by Ben BrooksbankSeaford Train Station in 1962, picture by Ben Brooksbank

The funding is £2.5 million for both churches which is paid for by the Church of England's income. It is part of £45 million which is going towards dioceses across the country.

Archbishop Justin added: “The money enables them to employ people and help the church to become a resource for the community and other churches.

"This is church as it should be, it’s utterly diverse, it’s immensely hospitable, it’s giving to people in need. It’s just beautiful."