Chichester Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chichester Cathedral |
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| Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity | |
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 Chichester Cathedral
Location in West Sussex
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| GB-WSX 50°50′11″N 0°46′51″W / 50.8363°N 0.7808°W | |
| Location | Chichester, West Sussex |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholicism |
| Website | chichestercathedral.org.uk |
| History | |
| Consecrated | 1108 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Norman, Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 408 ft (124 m) |
| Width | 157 ft (48 m) |
| Height | 61 ft (19 m) |
| Spire height | 277 ft (84 m) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Chichester |
| Province | Canterbury |
Chichester Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, is a very important church in Chichester, West Sussex, England. It is the main church for the Anglican Bishop of Chichester. The cathedral was started in 1075 when the bishop's main church moved from Selsey.
This cathedral has beautiful Norman and Gothic styles. Some people say it's a perfect example of an English cathedral. It has two special features that are rare among medieval English cathedrals. These are a separate bell tower and double aisles (walkways) inside. The cathedral also holds old sculptures and many modern artworks. These include tapestries, stained glass, and sculptures. Many of these were specially made for the cathedral.
Chichester is a small city. Its main streets were planned by the Romans a long time ago. The city is small enough that everyone could fit inside the cathedral at once!
The spire of Chichester Cathedral is the third tallest in England. It's a famous landmark for people traveling nearby. It's also the only spire from a medieval English cathedral that you can see from the sea. The roof was updated in the early 2020s. It now has strong grey lead coverings to protect it from the coastal weather.
Contents
History of Chichester Cathedral
Chichester Cathedral was built to replace an older church. That church was founded in 681 by St Wilfrid in Selsey. The bishop's main church moved to Chichester in 1075.
The cathedral was officially opened in 1108 by Bishop Ralph de Luffa. An early part added was the Chapel of Saint Pantaleon. This was probably started just before a big fire in 1187. The fire badly damaged the cathedral and much of the town. Because of the fire, the cathedral needed a lot of rebuilding. The wooden ceiling was replaced with a stone one. The cathedral was opened again in 1199.
In the 1200s, the central tower was finished. The eastern end was rebuilt with a Lady chapel. Also, chapels were added on each side of the nave. This created the unusual double aisles. The tall spire was completed around 1402. A separate bell tower was also built near the west end.
In 1262, Richard de la Wyche became a saint. He was bishop from 1245 to 1253. His shrine made the cathedral a popular place for pilgrimage (religious journeys). However, the shrine was destroyed in 1538 during the English Reformation. In 1642, the cathedral was attacked by Parliamentary soldiers.
The towers at Chichester have had problems because the ground underneath them has sunk. This is why the 15th-century bell tower is built a bit away from the main cathedral. One tower collapsed in 1210 and was rebuilt. Another tower fell in 1635 and wasn't rebuilt until 1901. The stone spire was built in the 1300s. It was repaired in the 1600s by Christopher Wren.
The spire survived a lightning strike in 1721. By the 1800s, the cathedral was in poor condition. A big repair project started in 1812. In 1829, the cathedral closed for several months for major work. On February 21, 1861, the spire suddenly collapsed. Luckily, no one was hurt.
People wondered why the spire fell. One idea was that removing a stone screen inside the cathedral caused it. But a more likely reason was that the spire's foundations had sunk over many years. This made the tower weak and it collapsed during strong winds.
Money was raised to rebuild the spire. Even Queen Victoria and Prince Albert helped. A new spire, looking like the old one, was rebuilt by George Gilbert Scott. It was finished in five years. The new spire is about 82 meters (277 feet) tall.
In 2008, the cathedral celebrated its 900th anniversary. The Archbishop of Canterbury visited for the celebration.
Cathedral Architecture
Like many English cathedrals, Chichester Cathedral has a long building history. It has faced several disasters. You can see its history in the building itself. Builders from different times used different styles and methods. Inside and outside, you can tell the original Norman parts from the later Gothic parts. The Norman sections are very strong and have round-topped windows. You can also spot different Gothic styles from the late 1100s to the 1400s.
The cathedral is shaped like a cross. It has a main area called a nave and a choir area. These are crossed by a transept. The eastern end of the building is long and square, with a Lady chapel sticking out. It also has two towers at the front and a taller central tower. What makes it special in England is its double aisles. Chichester also has a cloister (a covered walkway) on its south side.
Chichester is smaller than some other Norman cathedrals like Winchester. Much of the original Norman building is still there in the nave, transept, and choir. The inside walls have three levels: the main arcade, a gallery, and a clerestory (upper windows).
After the 1187 fire, the upper windows were rebuilt. The whole building got a new ribbed ceiling. The eastern end was extended. The new parts used a style that mixed Norman and Gothic elements. The new arches still had the round shape of Norman design. The ceiling is in the Early English Gothic style. It is supported by flying buttresses on the outside. The inside was also updated with new stone. Dark Purbeck marble was used to decorate the pillars.
The central tower, rebuilt by George Gilbert Scott, is in the Early English style. It has two tall pairs of openings on each side.
The original spire was made of stone, not wood. It was built in the late 1300s. Its design is similar to the spire at Salisbury Cathedral. At 84 meters (277 feet) high, it is the fourth tallest cathedral spire in the UK.
The Lady chapel is a long, narrow room at the eastern end. It has large windows in the Decorated Gothic style from the late 1200s.
Other buildings connected to the cathedral include the separate bell tower from the early 1400s. It has openings in the Perpendicular style.
St Mary's Almshouses in Chichester are linked to the cathedral. This Christian charity started in the 1200s. The medieval Hospital, connected to the Almshouse, is one of only two such buildings in the world.
- Cathedral interior
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Arundel Screen
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High altar
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Choir
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North transept
Special Treasures and Artworks
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Chichester Cathedral holds many special treasures and artworks. The most valuable are two carved stone reliefs from the 1100s. These are very rare English sculptures. Other old treasures include parts of a Roman mosaic floor. You can see this through a glass window. There are also 38 medieval misericords (carved wooden seats) from 1330.
Famous people buried here include the composer Gustav Holst. There is also the Gothic "Arundel tomb." It shows Richard FitzAlan, 10th Earl of Arundel holding hands with his wife. This tomb is famous from a poem called An Arundel Tomb.
The cathedral has many modern artworks. These include tapestries by John Piper and Ursula Benker-Schirmer. There's a beautiful stained-glass window by Marc Chagall. You can also see a painting by Graham Sutherland and sculptures by John Skelton. Outside, there is a bronze statue of St Richard of Chichester.
The cathedral also displays a flag from Francis Chichester. This flag was on his ship when he sailed around the world.
Cathedral Leadership
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The main leader of Chichester Cathedral is the Dean of Chichester. As of September 14, 2024, this is Edward Dowler.
Vanessa Baron is the Canon Treasurer. She started her role on September 26, 2021.
Other important members of the cathedral's leadership include Howard Castle-Smith and Anita Rolls.
Music at the Cathedral
Music is a very important part of Chichester Cathedral. The organ and the cathedral choir lead the music for daily services and special events. The cathedral also hosts many other types of music, both religious and non-religious. Choirs from other churches often come to sing here.
The cathedral holds many concerts. These include popular free lunchtime concerts. It's a place for artists from all over the world to perform. Local groups, like the Chichester Singers, also perform their main concerts in the cathedral.
Organs and Organists
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Chichester Cathedral has had organ music almost continuously since medieval times. There was a short break during the time of the Commonwealth of England. Today, there are five pipe organs of different sizes and styles. Parts of the Main Organ date back to the 1600s.
Several well-known composers have been organists here. These include Thomas Weelkes and John Reading. Anne Maddocks was the first woman to be an assistant organist in an English cathedral. Sarah Baldock was the second woman to hold the top music job in a Church of England cathedral.
The current organist and master of the choristers is Charles Harrison. The assistant organist is Timothy Ravalde.
Cathedral Choir
The Chichester Cathedral Choir has eighteen main singers and four new singers. All of them go to the Prebendal School, which is next to the cathedral. The choir also has six professional adult singers.
During school term, the choir sings at eight services each week. Besides singing, the young choristers learn piano and another instrument. They spend at least eighteen hours a week on music.
The choir often travels to other countries. In recent years, they have visited France and Germany. They also often visit Chartres, which is Chichester's twin city. In 2005, the choir toured South Africa.
Burials
- Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond
- Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond
- Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond
- Charles Gordon-Lennox, 7th Duke of Richmond
- James Hargraves
Wildlife at the Cathedral
The cathedral is home to peregrine falcons. These birds nest in a special turret at the bottom of the spire. In April 2009, three female and one male chick hatched there. During nesting season, you can watch live video of the chicks inside the cathedral and on its website.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Chichester para niños
- Architecture of the medieval cathedrals of England
- List of cathedrals in England
