Over 200,000 people have visited Chichester Cathedral’s in its special 950th year, taking part in a wide range of anniversary celebrations. This milestone year that has brought together communities across Sussex through worship, art, music and shared heritage.
The Cathedral’s official anniversary year has now drawn to a close, marking a period of reflection, renewal and rejoicing that has seen the Cathedral reaffirm its role as a beacon of faith, creativity and community life.
The Very Reverend Dr Edward Dowler, Dean of Chichester, said: “We are profoundly grateful to everyone who has played a part in this extraordinary year – from our staff, volunteers and partners, to the residents and visitors who joined us in celebration. The 950th anniversary has reminded us not only of the Cathedral’s deep roots in history, but of its living purpose as a place of welcome, inspiration and faith for all.”
Cultural heritage: uncovering stories from 1075 to today
A cornerstone of the anniversary programme was Religion, Rebellion & Reformation – an exhibition tracing the story of Christian faith in Sussex from 1075 to the present day. The exhibition revealed how the lives of educators, reformers, rebels and everyday individuals were shaped by their faith, with their stories preserved in treasures and artefacts drawn from parishes across East and West Sussex.
Its popularity with visitors led to an extension until February 2026, giving even more people the opportunity to explore these remarkable stories.
Celebrating faith across the diocese
Alongside the Cathedral’s 950th anniversary, 2025 marked the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the historic relocation of the bishop’s seat from Selsey to Chichester. These milestones were honoured under the banner Celebrating Faith, uniting parishes through services, conferences, family events and pilgrimages.
Throughout the year, many followed in the footsteps of generations of pilgrims to the Shrine of Saint Richard with a new Selsey-to-Chichester route created for the anniversary. In total over 50 pilgrimages were made to the Cathedral during this anniversary year, and a further 100 groups, including international schools.
The Cathedral was honoured to welcome His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople in June, who visited alongside other Orthodox dignitaries for Nicaea Received conference, organised by the Ecclesiastical Law Society.
Music and legacy: honouring a choral tradition
Music has long been at the heart of Chichester Cathedral’s identity, and 2025 offered moments of profound beauty and emotion. Together in Unity, a concert dedicated to the Cathedral’s choral legacy and marking the 60th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, was a moving tribute to this enduring musical connection.
A permanent plaque, unveiled by the late Dame Patricia Routledge DBE on 17 May, now stands outside the Cathedral as a lasting commemoration of Bernstein and his unique relationship with Chichester. Alongside this, new works commissioned for the anniversary by female composers Joanna Marsh and Judith Bingham have strengthened the Cathedral’s reputation as a place of musical innovation and excellence – a legacy to inspire future generations.
Partnership and collaboration: strengthening bonds across Sussex
The anniversary year deepened the Cathedral’s relationships across the city and diocese, with a remarkable spirit of collaboration shining through in events and tributes organised by partners. Exciting new collaborations were formed with Oxmarket Contemporary, which hosted Cathedral on Canvas – an exhibition uniting artists, photographers and makers inspired by the Cathedral’s beauty and spirituality, while The Novium Museum presented a special display exploring the Cathedral’s layered history. Pallant House Gallery also lent Elisabeth Frink’s powerful sculpture Christ (1983) for display within the Cathedral, where it will remain until February 2026, and later marked the anniversary with an exhibition on the Cathedral’s modern art legacy.
Across the city, Chichester BID adorned the streets with Chichester950 flags and, together with Chichester College, launched a sculpture trail inspired by the anniversary. Chichester Cinema, Chichester City Council and the BID also joined forces for Screen on the Green, bringing the community together for free open-air film screenings on the Cathedral Green in May, while Goodwood Racecourse hosted the Race for Chichester Cathedral 950 Years Handicap Stakes in celebration of the milestone.
Community and creativity: a year for everyone
A defining feature of the anniversary year was community participation. Through a series of creative projects, children and young people were invited to explore what the Cathedral means to them:
- Draw950 invited families during February half-term to contribute to a large collaborative artwork inspired by the Cathedral’s 950-year history – and its future.
- Write950 encouraged young writers across the county to submit stories inspired by the Cathedral with the winners announced at a special ceremony in September
- Fish950, run in partnership with the Diocesan Board of Education, saw Year 6 pupils create individual fish-shaped artworks displayed together in the Cathedral Nave from June to August.
- Sing950 brought hundreds of children together as one massed choir, celebrating unity through music and shared faith.
The summer also saw the launch of TrinityFest on the Green, a vibrant family celebration marking the Feast of the Holy Trinity – the Cathedral’s dedication. With live music, food stalls and creative workshops, the free event drew hundreds of visitors and will return in June 2026. The event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of headline sponsors Henry Adams and Stagecoach.
Art and innovation: looking to the future
The Luxmuralis Chichester950 Light Experience provided a fitting finale to this historic year – transforming the ancient walls with immersive colour and sound, and reaffirming Chichester Cathedral’s position as a trailblazer in the arts and cultural life of the South East. Close to 15,000 people visited the Cathedral over just eight evenings - raising in the region of £150,000 in ticket sales.
The Cathedral closes the year as a finalist for Visitor Attraction of the Year Award at the Beautiful South Awards hosted by Tourism South East, sitting alongside entities including Bletchley Park and Hever Castle. The Cathedral also remains in the top 10% of visitor attractions world-wide as voted for by TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice, as well as once again being listed on the Which? list of best UK days out for free.
Having reflected on 950 years of history, the Cathedral is now looking ahead with confidence to 2026 and beyond – including announcing a major new exhibition marking 60 years of John Piper’s iconic High Altar tapestry. On display from 13 February – 15 November 2026, the exhibition will explore the tapestry’s creation under the visionary Dean Walter Hussey, its artistic legacy, and its lasting impact on the Cathedral’s life and identity.
A legacy for generations to come
Reflecting on the year, The Very Reverend Dr Edward Dowler added: “One of our hopes for this anniversary was to inspire a renewed sense of pride and ownership of the Cathedral – not only as a historic landmark, but as a living, breathing centre of faith and creativity. We are excited to continue this journey as we look ahead to our next chapter.”
Proceeds from the anniversary events will support the ongoing maintenance and mission of Chichester Cathedral. As a registered charity receiving no regular government or central church funding, the support of visitors, partners and donors throughout 2025 has provided a vital boost to ensure that the Cathedral continues to serve as a place of faith, heritage and community for generations to come.
Chichester950 was proudly supported by Henry Adams and Stagecoach.
