The Chichester Diocese is very long, with the Cathedral under 10 miles from the western boundary with the Portsmouth Diocese and nearly 100 miles from the eastern boundary with the Canterbury Diocese.  This makes it difficult to keep in contact with the 389 parishes within the diocese, so each parish has a Cathedral Link who is interested in their Mother Church and forms a link between their parish and the Cathedral.

In the Diocesan Cycle of Intercessions each parish is prayed for by the whole Diocese once a year and the parish is invited to tea at the Cathedral and to attend the services on that day.

The Links are also honorary Friends of the Cathedral, and receive the Cathedral Newsletter and Journal giving them all the Cathedral news and information about events.  They also receive information about events put on by the Cathedral Restoration and Development Trust and are asked to publicise them within their parish, with articles for their magazines, posters and leaflets.  The Trust Flower Festivals, for example, are often attended by parish groups, led by their link, and there is a special entry rate for them.

Once a year the Cathedral has a Links Day, when Links throughout the Diocese are invited to the Cathedral to meet the Dean and Chapter.  The day includes a Eucharist at the Shrine of St Richard and tours of the Cathedral with the guides.  There is also a useful exchange of information, the Cathedral telling the Links about their work and the parish Links invited to ask questions and make suggestions.