On the first Tuesday of each month, the Library is open to researchers, theologians, and academics from 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m.
Please note this is subject to Cathedral closures and volunteer capacity.
You can find the entrance to the Library within the Cathedral Treasury and Shop, located in the North Transept.
Please note that access to the Library requires ascending a narrow spiral staircase.
A library has existed within the Cathedral since medieval times, occupying various locations over the centuries. In 1969 it was relocated to its present site and comprehensively refurbished; today it houses approximately 10,000 items.
Although the Library suffered significant losses during the Reformation and the Civil War, its collection has been carefully built. The majority of its holdings have been acquired since those periods, with some volumes dating back to pre-Reformation times.
The collection has grown through the acquisition of individual works and entire private libraries. Its scope extends far beyond Bibles, prayer books, and theological texts, encompassing subjects such as cookery, art, horticulture, poetry, philosophy, and music. Among its holdings are a number of rare and valuable works, and the collection continues to develop. A recent addition, for example, is a book of prints by Marc Chagall.
The Library also features notable architectural details, including striking stained glass windows and exceptionally well-preserved stone corbels
If you would like to find out more please contact the Sub-Librarian at: andrew.foster@chichestercathedral.org.uk