St Richard of Chichester Church, Chichester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Richard's Church |
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| St Richard of Chichester Church | |
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| OS grid reference | SU 86220 04416 |
| Location | Chichester, West Sussex |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | StRichardsChichester.co.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Dedication | Richard of Chichester |
| Consecrated | 21 March 1998 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 13 November 2007 |
| Architect(s) | Tomei & Maxwell |
| Completed | 19 March 1958 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Cathedral |
| Diocese | Arundel and Brighton |
| Province | Southwark |
St Richard of Chichester Church is a Roman Catholic church in the city of Chichester, England. It is a special type of local church called a parish church. The building you see today was built in 1958.
One of its most famous features is its amazing collection of stained glass windows. They were created by a French artist named Gabriel Loire. The church is located on Market Avenue, right next to St Richard's Catholic Primary School. Because of its importance, it is a Grade II listed building, which means it is officially protected.
Contents
The Story of St Richard's Church
The First Church
The current church isn't the first one that was built here. Before 1855, Catholic services, called Masses, were held in a room at a local hotel.
A woman named the Countess of Newburgh gave money to build a proper church. This first church was built in 1855 in a style called Gothic Revival, which was popular at the time. It stood on the corner of Market Avenue and Southgate for over 100 years.
A New Church for Modern Times
By the 1950s, a new, larger church was needed. The present-day St Richard's Church was officially opened on March 19, 1958. It was designed by architects Lawrence Tomei and John Maxwell. The same team also designed another church in a town called Hersham.
Amazing Art and Glass
The inside of the church is filled with light and color. High up on the walls, there is a long row of windows called a clerestory. These windows wrap all the way around the main parts of the church.
The stained glass in these windows is the work of Gabriel Loire. He used a special technique called dalle de verre, which means "slab of glass" in French. Instead of thin pieces of glass, he used thick, chunky pieces set in concrete. This creates a very bright and powerful look. The windows tell stories from the Bible.
The church also has other beautiful artworks. The paintings of the Stations of the Cross, the main altarpiece (a work of art behind the altar), and the area for baptisms were all created by an artist named David O’Connell.
The Church Community Today
St Richard's is part of a larger group of churches called a parish. A parish is a community of people who worship together. The priests from St Richard's also lead services at three other nearby churches:
- Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Bosham
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Wilfrid's Church in Selsey
- St Peter's Church in East Wittering
Together, these four churches form the Parish of Our Lady and the Saints of Sussex. They hold regular services, called Masses, every weekend for people in the community.
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Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Bosham
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St Peter's Church, East Wittering
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Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Wilfrid's Church, Selsey
See also
- List of current places of worship in Chichester District
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton
