Chichester Cathedral - its history and its art.

 
After 1066 the Norman policy was that cathedrals should be moved from small communities to larger centres of population.  In 1075 the Council of London established the See of Chichester and in 1076 the building of the present cathedral in Chichester was begun under Bishop Stigand.  It was completed under Bishop Luffa in time for its dedication to the Holy Trinity in 1108.

Richard of Wych, bishop of Chichester from 1245 - 1253, was canonized in 1262 when plans were made to move his body from its first burial place in the Nave to the Retroquire.  The ceremony of translation took place on 16 June 1276, in the presence of King Edward I.  From that day  until the shrine was destroyed in 1538, the Shrine of St Richard attracted pilgrims from all over England and beyond.  In 1930 an alter was restored to the site of the shrine. 
Pleae click here for more information on St Richard.



Chichester Cathedral is famous for its modern art which was commissioned mainly during the late 20th century.  These include a window by Marc Chagall, a tapestry by John Piper and a painting by Graham Sutherland.  However the art in the Cathedral is not all modern, it also contains some wonderful early objects including the 12th century Lazarus Reliefs and the Lambert Barnard paintings.  One of the delights of the building is the successful fusion of the ancient and the modern.