Art

Chichester Cathedral has a long history of seeking the face of God in visual form. The art inside our Cathedral spans almost as long a period of time as the history of the building itself.

Medieval wall paintings and sculpture reliefs sit cheek by jowl with Victorian glass work and contemporary art, all helping to enrich and beautify the Cathedral and the life lived here.

Chichester Cathedral is renowned for its continued commitment to the placement and development of art, which is reflected in both its permanent and continually changing programme of exhibitions.

Read on below to find out more about the artistic life of Chichester Cathedral.

Statue of St. Richard

Located outside Chichester Cathedral, at its northwest corner, stands a larger than life-size bronze statue of a cloaked St. Richard, created by Philip Jackson.

In his left hand St. Richard grasps both a roped scourge, a symbol of self-discipline, and the edge of his cloak. His outstretched right arm makes the sign of a holy blessing.

The plinth on which St. Richard stands is made up of Trevonite granite from Cornwall and blue Welsh slate and is topped by a layer of Portland limestone. It was commissioned by the Friends of Chichester Cathedral as part of the Millennium celebrations and unveiled on 15 June 2000.

Baptistry

Situated in the south-west tower, the Baptistry is home to a wonderful copper font used for baptisms. Commissioned by the Dean and Chapter and dedicated in 1983, the font is the work of British sculptor John Skelton. The painting, The Baptism of Christ, is by Hans Feibusch and was painted in 1951. Find out more here.

Chapel of St Clement

Restored in 1898, the Chapel of St Clement is dedicated to the 3rd Bishop of Rome, who died at the end of the first century.
The chapel was built around 1300 and is still used daily for morning prayers and other periodic services.
The altarpiece The Icon of Divine Light (1973) is by Cecil Collins; it presents God as a burst of sunlight, surrounded by smaller stars resting in its warm glow. Find out more here.

South Transept

The South Transept is dominated by a huge window; the glass dates from 1877 and depicts scenes from both the Old and New Testament.

The large painted wooden panels on the west wall are of national importance; painted in the 1530s by local artist Lambert Barnard, these Tudor Charter paintings are believed to be the largest surviving paintings of their kind. They depict two historic moments in the Cathedral’s life: its sixth-century origins; and a then-contemporary depiction of Henry VIII guaranteeing the protection of its future. Find out more here.

The Chichester Reliefs

Discovered in 1829 behind the woodwork of the choir stalls, these two carved stones have been dated to the second quarter of the 12th century, making them one of the earliest pieces of art in the Cathedral. They depict two scenes, Christ arriving in Bethany and the Raising of Lazarus, and are currently on display in the South Nave Aisle. Find out more here.

High Altar

Considered the spiritual heart of a church, the High Altar represents the ‘Holy Table’, a sacred place for gifts and prayers to be offered to God.

The tapestry, set behind the High Altar, is a vibrant focal point drawing the gaze of visitors as soon as they enter the Cathedral. Commissioned by Dean Hussey, the tapestry was installed in 1966 and is by the British artist John Piper. It consists of seven panels, each 1 metre wide and 5 metres high. Using bold colours and striking imagery the central subject is the Holy Trinity, to which the Cathedral is dedicated. Find out more here.

The Roman Mosaic

Excavations suggest that underneath the centre and eastern end of the Cathedral once stood a large Roman house. Parts of this structure’s mosaic tiled flooring can be viewed under a glass walkway, in the South Aisle.

Graham Sutherland Painting - 'Noli Me Tangere'

Installed in the St Mary Magdalene Chapel, Graham Sutherland’s painting Noli me Tangere (Do not hold me) was painted in 1961 and is a powerful depiction of Jesus’ return to life after the crucifixion. Find out more here.

Shrine of St Richard

The Shrine of St Richard, our own Saint and a Bishop here in the 13th century, was one of the most important for pilgrims to visit during the medieval period. Today, thousands of people still come each year to pray at the Shrine.

The large tapestry is by the German artist Ursula Benker-Schirmer and co-created with students from West Dean College, near Chichester. This vibrant tapestry contains symbols, biblical in origin, relating to the life of St Richard.

The Icon of St Richard, positioned above the candle stand, was paid for by the Chichester Cathedral Friends and created by the artist Sergei Fyodorov, one of the foremost living icon-painters. The painting depicts Richard with his hand raised in blessing towards the viewer. Find out more here.

'Christ in Judgement' Sculpture

Created in 1968 by the sculptor Philip Jackson, the bronze statue of ‘Christ in Judgement’ is positioned in the Retroquire above the entrance to the Lady Chapel. The subject of the statue is the final judgement of the world by Jesus, a popular theme in religious art pieces. Find out more here.

The Lady Chapel

The Lady Chapel is one of the most tranquil areas within the Cathedral. It is set aside for prayer, and so is often sought out by visitors and worshippers who want to spend a little time in quietness and reflection.

The bronze sculpture 'Virgin and Child' is by the Sussex sculptor John Skelton (1923 - 1999), who also designed the Cathedral’s font in the Baptistry. Find out more here.

Chapel of St John the Baptist

The Chapel of St John the Baptist is home to a Reredos (the painting above the altar) by Patrick Procktor, an English artist of the late 20th Century. It was added to the chapel in 1984 and depicts St John baptising Jesus. In the painting, St John’s extended right arm offers an invitation to all to participate. Find out more here.

Marc Chagall Window

This is one of the Cathedral's most famous artworks. This glorious window was installed in 1978.

From initial meetings between the Cathedral’s Dean Hussey and the Russian-born painter, it took nine years before the piece was finally unveiled. The strong colours and often unusual imagery contained in the stained glass are a celebratory representation of Psalm 150: “O praise God in his holiness… let everything that hath breath praise the Lord”. Find out more here.

Treasury and Cathedral Shop

Located in the Treasury alongside a fine collection of items on loan from churches throughout Sussex, as well as other pieces used in the life of the Cathedral is the Cathedral Shop. Whether you’re looking for a special memento of your visit to Chichester Cathedral or that perfect gift for a loved one – we will have something to catch your interest.

North Transept

This space was originally part of a pre-Cathedral church dedicated to St Peter. The North Transept is now home to a second set of Tudor paintings by the artist Lambert Barnard, who also created the large Tudor paintings in the South Transept.

The paintings are ‘representations’ of the Bishops of Chichester but all have similar features – the features are those of Bishop Robert Sherborne who commissioned the painting in the 1530s. Lambert Barnard was Sherborne’s court painter, so this was probably an act of flattery. Both sets of paintings are considered to be of exceptional importance to the nation’s Tudor heritage. Find out more here.

Gustav Holst Memorial

One of the greatest figures in British 20th century music, Gustav Holst had a special connection to Chichester Cathedral. The composer, who wrote The Planets suite, was a friend of Chichester's Bishop Bell and worked with him on the Whitsuntide Festivals. Holst died in 1934, before winning international recognition for his work. On his death, his ashes were buried in the North Transept underneath a memorial to his favourite Tudor composer, Thomas Weelkes. The memorial to Holst was installed and dedicated in 2009, and reads: 'The Heavenly Spheres make music for us.'

Arundel Tomb

The Arundel Tomb in the north aisle of Chichester Cathedral was brought from Lewes Priory after its dissolution in 1537. It is a tomb chest and on top lays the recumbent figures of Richard Fitzalan, 2nd Earl of Arundel, and his wife, Eleanor of Lancaster – they are gently holding hands. The tomb is best known today for inspiring Philip Larkin’s 1955 poem, An Arundel Tomb and its touching final line ‘What will survive of us is love’. Find out more here.

Chapel of St Michael

Also known as The Sailors’ Chapel, The Chapel of St Michael is a memorial to the Royal Navy and the people of West Sussex who gave their lives at sea in World War II. It was dedicated by Queen Elizabeth 2nd and the Duke of Edinburgh in July 1956. The Chapel was substantially refurbished and re-dedicated in 2017 thanks to a generous bequest and money from the Chichester Cathedral Friends. Find out more here.

Mosaic of Saint Dominic

The mosaic of Saint Dominic is made of glass from Murano, Venice. The glass tesserae are cut and set into wet lime plaster as a working surface, before being set permanently into mortar. Saint Dominic is shown with bare feet, carrying a crossed staff, signifying his itinerant life. He also carries a copy of the gospels from which he preached. The vestments he wears, for the Dominican order, were developed in his own lifetime.

Find out more