Cathedral Fellowship | Charles Crocker, poet and Cathedral Verger

In this illustrated talk Alan Green, Chichester’s historian, explores the life and times of Charles Crocker interspersed with readings of some of his works.

Two of Chichester’s Georgian poets – William Collins and William Hayley – are well known but the third, Charles Crocker, was until recently largely forgotten. Born in the city in 1797, apprenticed as a shoemaker, he had an innate love of literature and composed verses whist he worked. More-fitting employment followed, first with a Chichester publisher and later as sexton and Bishop’s Verger at the cathedral, a post he held until his death in 1861. His first slim volume of poems was published in 1830 and ran to a further three enlarged editions over the ensuing 30 years


At the Cathedral Fellowship members of the congregation meet old friends and make new ones. If you are new to the Congregation, it’s an excellent opportunity to meet new people and to begin to feel at home. We meet once a month for a talk or presentation on a wide range of topics, some of which are related to the Cathedral and Christian belief and practice and others are of more general interest. All our presenters are informal and approachable. There are no tickets and no membership, though we ask for a donation to cover expenses. 

We generally meet either in George Bell House, 4 Canon Lane or in Vicars’ Hall (do check the venue) with the talk followed by questions and discussion and the all-important cup of tea. We start at 2.15pm and the gathering lasts about 75 minutes.

Everybody is very welcome. 

For further information contact Richard Ashby fellowship@chichestercathedral.org.uk or 01243 372234.